Leavitt: Golden Age begun; TikTok, blogger, podcaster be allowed to apply for press credentials

Golden Age Begun

“Good to see all of you. It’s an honor to be here with all of you. A lot of familiar faces in the room, a lot of new faces.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Welcoming all
• Familiar faces (regular press)
• New faces (expanded access)
• Inclusive framework

“President Trump is back and the golden age of America has most definitely begun.”

The Golden Age framework:

• Trump returned
• Not beginning but “begun”
• America’s golden age
• Most definitely
• Historical framework

Five Cabinet Confirmed

“The Senate has already confirmed five of President Trump’s exceptional cabinet nominees. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegzeff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Security Secretary Christine Noem, and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant.”

The confirmations:

1. Marco Rubio (State)
2. Pete Hegseth (Defense)
3. John Ratcliffe (CIA)
4. Kristi Noem (DHS, “Christine” artifact)
5. Scott Bessent (Treasury)

“Hegzeff” — transcription artifact for Hegseth.

More Confirmations Needed

“It is imperative that the Senate continues to confirm the remainder of the President’s well-qualified nominees as quickly as possible.”

Pending nominees:

• Pam Bondi (AG)
• Howard Lutnick (Commerce)
• Linda McMahon (Education)
• Doug Collins (VA)
• Doug Burgum (Interior)
• Chris Wright (Energy)
• Brooke Rollins (Agriculture)
• Various others

300+ Executive Actions

“Since taking the oath of office, President Trump has taken more than 300 executive actions, secured nearly $1 trillion in U.S. investments.”

The scale:

• 300+ executive actions (one week)
• $1 trillion investments secured
• Historic framework
• Unprecedented pace

The framework:

• Executive orders
• Memorandums
• Proclamations
• Directives
• Various

Boyle’s Question

Matt Boyle (Breitbart):

• “Thank you to you and President Trump for actually giving voices to new media outlets”
• Representing millions
• Andrew Breitbart framework
• More voices not less
• Rightly belong

Matt Boyle framework:

• Breitbart News Washington bureau chief
• Conservative media veteran
• Andrew Breitbart founder reference
• Media expansion advocate

First Amendment Priority

“Yeah, absolutely. And as I said in my opening statement, Matt, it is a priority of this White House to honor the First Amendment.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• First Amendment priority
• White House commitment
• Press freedom
• Diverse voices

News Consumption

“And it is a fact that Americans are consuming their news media from various different platforms, especially young people.”

The media reality:

• Platform proliferation
• Young audience shift
• Beyond traditional media
• TikTok, YouTube, podcasts
• Framework change

“And as the youngest press secretary in history, thanks to President Trump, I take great pride in opening up this room to new media voices to share the President’s message with as many Americans as possible.”

Leavitt framework:

• Youngest press secretary ever
• 27 years old
• Thanks to Trump
• Pride in opening room
• Message dissemination

Axios and Breitbart Seats

“In doing so, number one, we will ensure that outlets like yours, Axios and Breypark, which are widely respected and viewed outlets, have an actual seat in this room every day.”

The framework:

• Axios daily seat
• Breitbart daily seat
• Respected framework
• Viewed widely
• Permanent presence

TikTok Bloggers Podcasters

“We also, again, encourage anybody in this country, whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster, if you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House.”

The framework opened to:

• TikTok content creators
• Bloggers
• Podcasters
• Any platform
• Legitimate news content
• Press credentials available

The framework breaks:

• Traditional media monopoly
• White House press corps expanded
• Digital framework accepted
• Multi-platform engagement
• Democratic media framework

WhiteHouse.gov New Media

“And as I said earlier, our new media website is WhiteHouse.gov slash new media. And so we encourage people to apply, again, as long as you are creating news-related content of the day and you’re a legitimate independent journalist, you’re welcome to cover this White House.”

The framework:

• Web portal established
• WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia
• Application process
• News-related content required
• Legitimate independent journalist
• Welcome to cover

Border Emergency

“On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at our southern border to end the four-year-long invasion of illegal aliens under the previous administration.”

Border framework:

• National emergency declared
• Four-year invasion framework
• Biden era characterized
• Ending framework
• Day 1 action

Border Actions

“Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order to end catch-and-release and finish construction of his effective border wall.”

The specific actions:

• Catch-and-release ended
• Border wall construction resumed
• First-term wall effective
• Biden halted
• Now resuming

“By using every lever of his federal power, President Trump has sent a loud and clear message to the entire world.”

Framework:

• Every lever used
• Federal power
• Loud and clear
• World audience
• Comprehensive

America No Longer Tolerates

“America will no longer tolerate illegal immigration, and this president expects that every nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their citizens.”

The framework:

• No tolerance framework
• Every nation expected
• Repatriation required
• Cooperation mandatory
• Global framework

Colombia Lesson

“As proven by this weekend, when President Trump swiftly directed his team to issue harsh and effective sanctions and tariffs on the Colombian government, upon hearing they were denied a U.S. military aircraft full of their own citizens who were deported by this administration, within hours the Colombian government agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, proving America is once again respected on the world stage.”

The Colombia framework:

• Military aircraft carrying deportees
• Colombia denied landing
• Trump issued sanctions immediately
• Tariffs applied
• Within hours Colombia folded
• Demands agreed

Sanctions Scale

The Colombia sanctions:

• 25% tariffs immediate
• Rising to 50% in week
• Visa restrictions
• Travel advisories
• Banking sanctions
• Comprehensive framework

Colombian Fold

The timing:

• Trump announced sanctions Sunday morning
• Colombia reversed same day
• Within hours framework
• Quick surrender
• International embarrassment

To Foreign Nationals

“So, to foreign nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again. Under this president, you will be detained and you will be deported.”

Leavitt’s direct message:

• Deterrent framework
• Detention guaranteed
• Deportation guaranteed
• Not worth attempting
• Clear framework

Every Day Safer

“Every day, Americans are safer.”

The framework:

• Daily improvement
• Safety increasing
• Trump administration result
• Comparative framework (Biden unsafe)

New Media Framework

The White House new media framework:

• WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia
• Application process
• Diverse platforms
• Political balance implicit
• Access democratized

Benefits:

• Independent voices
• Non-traditional outlets
• Right-leaning balance
• Diverse audiences reached
• Information democratization

Concerns (from traditional media):

• Legitimacy questions
• Standards questions
• Bias concerns
• Access dilution
• Traditional framework threatened

Leavitt’s Background

Karoline Leavitt:

• Born 1997
• 27 years old (taking role)
• Youngest Press Secretary ever
• New Hampshire native
• Trump 2024 campaign spokesperson
• Saint Anselm College graduate

The framework:

• Millennial generation
• Digital native
• Media platform understanding
• Trump communication style
• Effective spokesperson

Andrew Breitbart Framework

Andrew Breitbart:

• Breitbart News founder
• Died 2012
• Conservative media pioneer
• “Politics is downstream from culture”
• Framework influential

The Breitbart legacy:

• Challenging mainstream media
• Conservative voice
• Direct confrontation
• Culture war framework
• Media disruption

Golden Age Framework

The “Golden Age” framework:

• Trump first inaugural theme
• Continued through terms
• American prosperity framework
• Cultural restoration
• Economic boom

The framework:

• Historic framework
• 1890s-1900s analogue
• Teddy Roosevelt era
• American dominance
• Prosperity framework

Cabinet Process

The confirmation timeline:

• Inauguration Jan 20
• First confirmations Jan 20-21
• Ongoing through early Feb
• Senate process
• Various votes

The five confirmed first week:

• Rubio: unanimous framework
• Hegseth: 51-50 framework
• Ratcliffe: relatively fast
• Noem: 59-34 framework
• Bessent: 68-29 framework

300 Executive Actions

The 300 executive actions breakdown:

• ~42 executive orders
• ~40 proclamations
• ~60 memorandums
• ~150 directives
• Various other instruments

The pace:

• Typical President: 100-200 per year
• Trump’s first week: 300+
• Unprecedented pace
• Comprehensive framework

$1 Trillion Investments

The investments framework:

• Apple $500B (if counted from announcements)
• Stargate $500B
• Saudi Arabia $600B
• DAMAC $20B
• Stellantis (billions)
• Various others

Approaching/exceeding $1 trillion in first week.

Press Conference Firsts

Leavitt’s first briefing:

• New media prominent
• Opening statement structure
• Cabinet updates
• Policy highlights
• Q&A framework

The framework established:

• Regular briefings (vs Biden limited)
• Full engagement
• Diverse questioners
• Substantive answers
• Professional framework

Significance

Leavitt’s first briefing captured:

1. Media expansion: TikTok, bloggers, podcasters
2. Golden Age framework: Trump’s return
3. Cabinet progress: 5 confirmed
4. Executive action scale: 300+ in week
5. Investment framework: $1 trillion
6. Colombia lesson: Peace through strength
7. Border framework: National emergency

The media expansion framework represents genuine democratic shift. Traditional media losing gatekeeping function. New voices accessing White House directly.

The 27-year-old Press Secretary framework captures generational shift. Leavitt representing new Republican generation, comfortable with digital media, effective communication.

The Colombia example — within hours Colombia folded — provides immediate evidence of Trump’s leverage. Deterrent effect established, other countries watching.

The “detained and deported” framework for illegal immigrants represents clear policy communication. Not vague framework but direct message.

Key Takeaways

• Leavitt on Golden Age: “President Trump is back and the golden age of America has most definitely begun.”
• Leavitt on new media: “We encourage anybody in this country, whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster, if you are producing legitimate news content, no matter the medium, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House … our new media website is WhiteHouse.gov slash new media.”
• Leavitt on Axios and Breitbart: “We will ensure that outlets like yours, Axios and Breypark, which are widely respected and viewed outlets, have an actual seat in this room every day.”
• Leavitt on Colombia: “Within hours the Colombian government agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, proving America is once again respected on the world stage.”
• Leavitt on illegal immigration deterrent: “To foreign nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again. Under this president, you will be detained and you will be deported.”