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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday blasted remarks by former Biden administration spokeswoman Jen Psaki about the deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, calling them “insensitive and disrespectful.”
Two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed and 17 others injured Wednesday when a gunman opened fire during a morning church service at the school, authorities said. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Following the attack, Psaki criticized politicians for offering prayers in response to mass shootings. “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not [sic] end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers,” Psaki wrote on X.
Leavitt said the comments dismissed the faith of millions of Americans.
“Yes, I saw the comments of my predecessor, Ms. Psaki, and, frankly, I think they’re incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to the tens of millions of Americans of faith across this country who believe in the power of prayer, who believe that prayer works, and who believe that in a time of mourning like this, when beautiful young children were killed while praying in a church, it’s utterly disrespectful to deride the power of prayer in this country,” she told reporters.
“It’s disrespectful to the millions of Americans of faith, and I would encourage Ms. Psaki to pray for these families themselves who need it—right now more than ever,” she added.
Psaki’s remarks also drew a response from Vice President JD Vance, who posted on X: “We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action. Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed [while] praying?”
Leavitt said federal authorities are examining all aspects of the case, including the shooter’s reported gender dysphoria.
“All of the elements are being investigated in the shooting, absolutely. Which is why, part of the reason the FBI director came out and immediately confirmed that facet of the investigation,” she said.
She also pointed to a review by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into whether psychiatric medications given to minors in gender transitions might contribute to violent behavior. Kennedy told Fox News the department is studying the potential role of SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs.