White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently shared her journey to the podium and how her faith in God strengthens her prior to each briefing.
“I think that team prayer before [briefings] is just a moment to be silent and still and ask God for confidence and the ability to articulate my words, knowledge, prayer, protection, and it is a nice moment to reset.”
“It’s the last thing I do before I go out there, and then it just gives me the confidence to do a briefing,” she told CBN News host David Brody.
At 27 years old Ms. Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in history.
She shared how her confidence stems from a love-filled childhood with her blue-collar parents in the liberal US state of New Hampshire.
“I think that value of hard work and determination and drive was instilled in me at a very young age, just by watching my parents work so hard to earn a living,” she explained.
“MY FAITH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.”
She was also impacted by her Catholic education as she learned the importance of discipline.
“My faith is incredibly important to me, I would argue, now more than ever, being in a role that is very demanding and at times controversial.”
“There’s a lot of public pressure and discussion online about who you are and your family [and] it could be difficult for someone who doesn’t have faith, but with faith, all things are possible.”
Karoline Leavitt revealed that sports played a significant role in her life including excelling on her high school softball team.
“Softball prepared me for the game of politics, no doubt about it,” she explained to CBN News.
SECRETS TO DOING A GOOD JOB AS PRESS SECRETARY
“Discipline, hard work, teamwork and also competing against yourself to be the best that you can in athletics, I think, has prepared me especially for this job now. “
“You know, I can have a good briefing, but the next day, I have to go back on television. I have to perform again, right? So every day is a new game in this job.”
Three years ago she surprisingly won the Republican nomination to run for Congress in her home state, but lost the general election in the Democrat stronghold.
“God has a plan for everyone. I believe that firmly. So God knew what He was doing and you just have to trust the process and trust that He’s working in your life and stay grounded in your faith throughout the way.”
KAROLINE LEAVITT’S VIEW OF JOURNALISTS
“I think there are true journalists out there that still exist,” she said when asked if political journalism in America was dead today.
“They are few and far between. I think the media has had to take a look in the mirror, especially after President Trump’s resounding victory [when] the American public sent a very strong message to the anti-Trump media that: We don’t listen to you.”
Karoline Leavitt rejects claims that news outlets are losing direct access to the president:
“That is utter fallacy and completely ridiculous. We have expanded the pool to new voices, independent journalists, podcasters, social media content creators, while continuing to invite legacy media.”
“I BELIEVE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. I SAW IT FIRST-HAND DURING THE CAMPAIGN.”
She also sees a much larger fight taking place: The one between good and evil.
“I certainly believe in spiritual warfare. And I think I saw it first-hand, especially throughout the campaign trail with President Trump.”
“I think there certainly were evil forces. And I think that the president was saved by the grace of God on July 13th in Butler, Pennsylvania, and he’s in this moment for a reason.”
COMBINING A WHITE HOUSE JOB WITH BEING A MUM
Ms. Leavitt must combine her high pressure job with her role as a full-time mum to an eight-month-old boy.
Her husband Nicholas Riccio is a real estate developer 32 years her senior.
“It’s certainly challenging. There’s no doubt about it. I think every working mother understands the demands. And no matter where you are, what you’re doing, there is a sense of guilt,” she admits.
“I spend every second that I possibly can with my son when I’m home on weekends and evenings.”
“I try to make it home for bedtime as much as I can throughout the week.”
So she makes do on just five to six hours sleep a night.
When asked how she defines herself, the White House Press Secretary responds: “I hope people just view me as a hard worker who wants to get the job done and a good mother, and good at my job.”
