The White House began its press briefing on Friday by summarizing various consequences of the government shutdown that were already hitting Americans.
Watch White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s news briefing in the video player above.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt discussed a report that said military families are already seeking food aid as troops go without a paycheck.
Leavitt said Trump supports the idea of making sure they’re cared for, and “if Democrats believe in this very simple premise too, they should end this shutdown immediately.”
Other impacts Leavitt discussed were the halting of nutrition assistance for women, infants and children, air traffic controllers working without pay, and a lapsing federal flood insurance program.
“This madness must end,” Leavitt said.
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Leavitt said conservative influencer Nick Sortor was “defending himself” from left-wing protestors in Portland, and she criticized police for arresting “a journalist who was there to document the chaos.”
She said there would be a “full investigation” by the Department of Justice, and Trump asked advisers to review wants to cut federal funding for the Democratic-run city.
White House: FDA approval of abortion pill not an endorsement
The White House also said Friday that the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of a generic form of mifepristone was just following the law and not a sign of support for the abortion pill.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the FDA and Health and Human Services was merely following the law.
The decision is “not an endorsement of this drug by any means,” Leavitt said.
The approval has drawn fire from conservatives. Mike Pence, Trump’s vice president from his first term, said the approval was a “complete betrayal of the pro-life movement that elected President Trump.”
Leavitt sidesteps Bad Bunny question, but hints that Trump has more to say
The Puerto Rican superstar is slated to perform at the next Super Bowl.
The announcement angered some conservatives, who dislike Bad Bunny’s criticism of Trump’s deportation policies.
Asked for the White House’s opinion, Leavitt said Trump may have more to say at some point.
“I won’t get ahead of him,” she said. “I won’t reveal what he feels about this.”
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