Karoline Leavitt White House Briefing: Iran, Economy, Energy, and Domestic Policies

White House Agenda & Economic Progress

• 💡 President Trump's busy schedule includes a Black History Month reception, a Board of Peace meeting for Gaza, a trip to Georgia, and the annual Governors' dinner.
• 📈 The January jobs report shattered expectations, adding 172,000 new private sector jobs and lowering the unemployment rate.
• 💰 Federal government employment has shrunk to its lowest level since 1966, saving taxpayers $29 billion annually, with all net job growth going to native-born Americans.

Tackling Inflation and Affordability

• ✅ Inflation fell to 2.4% in January, the lowest since May, with core inflation reaching a nearly 5-year low.
• 🏡 Mortgage costs for new homes have fallen by $4,000 under President Trump, and national median rents are at a 4-year low, partly due to deportation efforts.
• 🍎 Prices for groceries like eggs, dairy, and fresh fruit have decreased, alongside a nearly 10% drop in fuel prices and lower prescription drug costs.

Key Domestic and Foreign Policy Updates

• ⚡ The administration is pushing for energy dominance through federal permitting and encouraging blue states to support infrastructure projects like the Constitution pipeline.
• 🚨 Immigration enforcement efforts include the deportation of nearly 3 million illegal aliens and increased cooperation with local authorities to detain criminal illegal aliens.
• 🕊️ Regarding Iran, diplomacy remains the first option, with progress noted in recent talks, though no deadlines for military action were disclosed.
• ⚠️ The Department of Homeland Security is partially shut down due to Democrats' actions, impacting FEMA, Coast Guard, and TSA workers.

Other Briefing Highlights

• 🗳️ President Trump is exploring an executive order on voter ID and urges Congress to pass the Save America Act for mandatory voter identification.
• 🇺🇦 The President views the **Ukraine war as