White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump after he declared his hatred for his political opponents on Sunday.
Trump intensified his rhetoric against his political rivals on Sunday during his remarks at a memorial service for right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 10. Leavitt doubled down on Trump’s comments, suggesting that he was being true to himself.
“Look, the President is authentically himself. I think that’s why millions of Americans across the country love him and support him, including Erika Kirk, who you saw so beautifully, was on stage with the president in an unthinkable moment in the midst of an unthinkable tragedy, and was leaning on the president for support during that time,” Leavitt said during Monday’s press briefing.
“And he was there to give it to her, as well as the Vice President and many other top ranking cabinet officials,” she added.
In the days since Kirk’s killing, Trump has escalated his attacks against Democrats. He blamed the rhetoric from the “radical left” for the assassination of Kirk, and claimed, without evidence, that only the left is responsible for political violence.
On Sunday, Trump received backlash for explaining his disagreement with Kirk. Trump explained how Kirk sparked civil discourse among both sides of the political aisle — and then acknowledged how he does not do the same thing.
“In that private moment on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was. He was a missionary with a noble spirit, and a great, great purpose,” Trump said.
“He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie,” he continued, adding, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry.”
His comments came shortly after Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, said that she forgave the suspect accused of shooting and killing her husband.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do,” she said. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love.”
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
“He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom,” Trump said in his tribute. “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”
Speakers highlighted Kirk’s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, have children and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in forceful tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.
“For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,” Vance said. “My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.