White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has reignited a festering cultural debate about women's role in society, especially for conservatives.
Appearing at conservative activist group Turning Point USA's This Is The Turning Point Tour alongside the organization's CEO Erika Kirk, Leavitt shared her own experience of balancing motherhood with one of the world's most high profile jobs.
'You can and you should do both because actually being a mom and having a family and having a job, it gives you the greatest perspective,' Leavitt told a crowd of over 1,000 attendees at Thursday's event.
But Leavitt's message fell flat for some conservative viewers - with her own MAGA fan base calling her out for the perspective on her home and work-life balance.
Conservative commentator Kira Davis was one individual on X who was disappointed by Leavitt's message: 'I'm shocked this is a message TPUSA thinks is healthy for young women.'
'Have both of you want - pretending it's BETTER than being a mom who stays home is actually disturbing,' Davis noted.
'Don't like this. Sorry KL. Love ya but this ain't it,' Davis concluded.
Priest and conservative commentator Calvin Robinson also slammed the message, noting that 'this is not conservatism, this is feminism.'
Leavitt, 28, shares her toddler son Nico with her husband Nicholas, and the pair are preparing to welcome their second child, a daughter, in the coming weeks.
While in the past she has been heralded by some conservatives as the prime example of a working mom, Leavitt was also ridiculed by critics for not giving herself proper time after the birth of her son, Nicholas 'Niko' Robert Riccio, before returning to her demanding job.
She was back to work as a top Trump spokesperson mere days after giving birth on July 10, 2024. The quick return was prompted by the assassination attempt on then-candidate Trump at his Butler, Pennsylvania, rally on July 13, 2024.
Leavitt, who is expecting her second child in May, insists that she plans to take more time to recover this time before coming back to the briefing room podium.
The Trump spokesperson appeared with Erika Kirk at George Washington University in Washington, DC on Thursday, and covered a wide range of topics, including career advice and motherhood, dishing to an audience of over 1,000.
Earlier in the speech, Leavitt heralded Charlie Kirk as a key mentor during her political rise, including his support of her congressional campaign in New Hampshire in 2022.
'When I launched my congressional campaign, Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA were the only organization in the political world that supported me,' Leavitt noted, sharing that the entire Washington, DC 'establishment' backed her opponent, but sharing that she thinks 'Charlie loved' that she 'was a young person who was stepping up to the plate.'
Leavitt shared that her office gets between 200 and 300 press inquiries on a typical day, which are answered by her and a team of dedicated deputies.
The Trump spokesperson also shared that on Tuesday mornings, at 7:45 in the AM, in the Roosevelt Room, several White House staff participate in Bible study, now attended only by female staffers. However, Leavitt said her male colleagues are welcome too.
Later in the speech, Leavitt also revealed that her favorite Bible verse is from the Book of Psalms, 46:5, 'God is within her. She will not fall.'
'Faith gives you such perspective that even the worst story or the worst news cycle is just a moment,' Leavitt remarked when asked by Erika how she gets through the 24-hour news cycle every day.
To young women, Leavitt's advice was that they can do both, be mothers and have a career.
And the number one recommendation she dished out for success was simple.
'I'm going to give you a piece of advice that is not novel. You've definitely heard it before. It's very simplistic. Work hard,' Leavitt told the crowd.