(OPINION) White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently asserted that “spiritual warfare” is at play around President Donald Trump. Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, made these comments during an interview released on Monday, suggesting that “evil forces” have been working against the president.
Multiple news outlets have reported her remarks, which have drawn both support and skepticism. This reflects the polarized lens through which Trump’s leadership is often viewed.
According to The Christian Post, Leavitt shared her perspective based on her close proximity to Trump, particularly during the 2024 campaign trail.
“I think I saw it firsthand,” she said, referencing what she perceives as divine intervention in Trump’s survival of an assassination attempt on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I think that the president was saved by the grace of God… and he’s in this moment for a reason.”
Leavitt’s belief in a spiritual dimension to Trump’s presidency aligns with sentiments expressed by some of his evangelical supporters, who see his leadership as part of a larger cosmic struggle.
CBN News, a Christian-oriented outlet, provided further context to Leavitt’s statements, noting her assertion that “spiritual warfare is real.”
Reporter David Brody highlighted her role as a key communicator for the administration, emphasizing her conviction that Trump’s resilience—amid legal battles, political opposition, and physical threats—points to a higher purpose.
The outlet also tied her comments to Trump’s recent executive actions, such as banning men from women’s sports and pardoning pro-life protesters, which resonate with conservative Christian priorities.
However, not all coverage has been sympathetic. Raw Story framed Leavitt’s remarks as controversial, with some critics on social media labeling her a “lunatic” for invoking spiritual warfare in a political context.
The outlet reported on posts from X where users expressed alarm at what they see as an infusion of religious extremism into the White House. One user, cited anonymously, questioned the appropriateness of such rhetoric from a press secretary, suggesting it blurs the line between church and state.
Leavitt’s personal story adds a layer of intrigue to her claims.
As noted by The Christian Post, she was pregnant during her tenure as Trump’s national press secretary during the campaign and chose to forgo maternity leave after giving birth to her son, Nicholas, just three days before the Butler incident.
Her decision to return to work amid such dramatic events may underscore her sense of duty—or, as she might argue, her role in a larger spiritual narrative.
The notion of “spiritual warfare” isn’t new in Trump’s orbit. His evangelical base has long framed his presidency as a battle against secular or malevolent forces, a theme that gained traction after the Butler assassination attempt.
Leavitt’s comments, however, mark a rare instance of a high-ranking official explicitly endorsing this view from the White House podium.
While CBN News celebrated her candor as a reflection of faith-driven leadership, detractors, as reported by Raw Story, see it as further evidence of the administration’s alignment with fringe ideologies.
