Fact-Checking the White House: A Closer Look at Karoline Leavitt’s Claims (July 13–19, 2025)

Between July 13 and July 19, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made several controversial statements. This article breaks down six of the most widely circulated claims, separating fact from fiction with verified sources and expert analysis.

Claim: Trump “Solved” California’s Wildfire Crisis by Deploying the Military to “Turn on the Water”

What Was Said: Leavitt credited former President Donald Trump with resolving California’s wildfire crisis by deploying the military to “turn on the water.”

The Facts:

Trump claimed the military “turned on the water” flowing from the Pacific Northwest [1].
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers clarified it did not restore any water source [1].
The California Department of Water Resources confirmed that no military personnel entered California, and the water pumps were restarted after maintenance [2].
Experts emphasized that no water infrastructure connects the Pacific Northwest to Southern California’s firefighting systems [3].

Verdict: False. The claim misrepresents both the role of the military and the state’s water infrastructure.

Claim: Biden “Killed 100 million Chickens,” Causing Egg Prices to Rise

What Was Said: Leavitt blamed President Biden for the deaths of over 100 million chickens and the resulting spike in egg prices.

The Facts:

Over 108 million egg-laying chickens have died since 2022 due to avian flu outbreaks or USDA-mandated culling [4].
The depopulation strategy is a longstanding USDA policy, also used during Trump’s presidency [4].
Experts agree that culling is necessary to prevent the spread of avian flu and protect public health [5].
Egg prices rose significantly, but this was due to avian flu outbreaks, not solely Biden’s policies [6].

Verdict: Misleading. The policy predates Biden and is based on public health protocols.

Claim: Birthright Citizenship Is Unconstitutional

What Was Said: Leavitt claimed that birthright citizenship violates the U.S. Constitution.

The Facts:

The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil [7].
Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship was blocked by federal courts [8].
Legal scholars across the political spectrum agree that the Constitution protects birthright citizenship [8].

Verdict: False. The claim contradicts the plain text of the Constitution and existing legal precedent.

Claim: $50 Million in Aid Was Going to “Fund Condoms in Gaza”

What Was Said: Leavitt alleged that \$50 million in taxpayer funds were being used to distribute condoms in Gaza.

The Facts:

The State Department confirmed the aid was for general health support, not earmarked for condoms [9].
The International Medical Corps, the intended recipient, stated it never used U.S. funds for condoms in Gaza [9].
USAID’s global contraceptive budget was \$60 million in 2023, with no allocation to Gaza [10].

Verdict: False. The claim is unsupported by any official documentation or credible source.

Claim: Judge James Boasberg Was a “Democrat Activist” Appointed by Obama

What Was Said: Leavitt described Judge Boasberg as a partisan activist appointed by President Obama.

The Facts:

Judge James Boasberg was first appointed by President George W. Bush to the D.C. Superior Court [11].
He was later elevated to the federal bench by Obama, but his initial appointment was bipartisan [12].
NBC’s Garrett Haake corrected Leavitt live during the briefing, highlighting the factual error [13].

Verdict: Misleading. Boasberg’s judicial history reflects bipartisan support.

Claim: France Should Be “Grateful” to the U.S. for Not Speaking German

What Was Said: In response to a French politician’s joke about returning the Statue of Liberty, Leavitt said France should be grateful to the U.S. for not speaking German.

The Facts:

The comment was directed at Raphaël Glucksmann, who criticized U.S. political shifts[15].
Historians noted that France played a crucial role in U.S. independence and also contributed significantly during WWII[14].
Critics called the remark tone-deaf and historically reductive, oversimplifying the Allied effort[16].

Verdict: Inappropriate. The statement oversimplifies complex historical alliances.

Final Thoughts

These fact checks highlight the importance of verifying political statements, especially when they involve public health, constitutional rights, and international diplomacy. While political rhetoric often involves exaggeration, it’s essential to hold public officials accountable to the truth.

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References

[1] Trump falsely claims military restored water to California

[2] 'Military did not enter California' to turn the water back on: state ...

[3] California water regulators deny Trump's claim that US military 'turned ...

[4] PolitiFact | Karoline Leavitt blames Biden for egg shortage, but ...

[5] White House Lays an Egg Trying to Explain High Egg Prices

[6] White House says Biden admin's killing 100M chickens contributed to ...

[7] Leavitt's Claims On Citizenship Ignite Backlash

[8] New Face, Same Lies: Karoline Leavitt Debuts with Misinformation and ...

[9] The U.S. did not spend $50 million to fund condoms in Gaza

[10] Trump Administration Makes Unsupported Claim About $50 Million for ...