Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt opened the September 9 briefing with scheduling notes: President Trump will mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11 on Thursday at the Pentagon Memorial, then appear at the New York Yankees game that evening. Next week, the President and First Lady depart for a state visit to the United Kingdom.
Leavitt devoted extended remarks to the killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna (Arena) Zerutska in Charlotte, calling it a preventable tragedy. Citing the suspect’s prior arrests and bond history, she blamed “cashless bail” and “soft-on-crime” local policies, and criticized media coverage. She said the President signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to identify jurisdictions with cashless bail to evaluate whether federal funds can be suspended, arguing the policy change is aimed at keeping repeat offenders in custody.
On border metrics, Leavitt said preliminary Customs and Border Protection figures show four straight months of zero releases by CBP and encounters far below prior peaks, framing the current posture as “the most secure border in American history.” She added that deporting “illegal alien criminals” is a top enforcement priority.
Foreign policy dominated a long Q&A segment. Addressing an Israeli strike that hit Hamas targets in Doha, Qatar, Leavitt read a statement saying unilateral bombing in a close U.S. ally “does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” while reiterating that eliminating Hamas is a “worthy goal.” She said the U.S. military notified the White House before the strike, the President alerted Qatari leaders, and he later spoke with both Qatar’s leadership and Prime Minister Netanyahu. The President, she said, wants all hostages released and “this war to end now,” and views the incident as a potential opening for peace efforts.
Pressed on global free-speech concerns, Leavitt said the administration has sanctioned a Brazilian judge and may use economic tools to oppose censorship abroad, but offered no new actions. On NATO, she said the President has not linked speech crackdowns in European countries to membership questions.
Leavitt highlighted the administration’s joint crime operation with D.C., reporting 2,177 arrests since August 7 and detailing recent felony arrests. She rejected the premise that high crime is a “red-state” problem, arguing violence is concentrated in “Democrat-run cities.”
Turning to the economy, she pointed to Labor Department benchmark revisions, claiming they show job growth under the previous administration was overstated and that the Fed should cut rates. She touted recent indicators in GDP, productivity, and capital spending, and said the President wants “truthful and honest data,” including new BLS leadership.
The Press Secretary also addressed the renewed Epstein controversy. She said the President did not sign documents or a check circulated in newly released materials and supports forensic review; she characterized Democrats’ focus on the case as a political “distraction.”
Leavitt confirmed the administration’s new “Pray America” initiative and said forthcoming guidance would emphasize protecting students’ religious expression, while noting “people of all faiths pray.”
The briefing closed with questions on immigration enforcement, trade, and possible policy changes to allow specialized foreign workers alongside training for Americans.
Source: The White House
