In-town pool report #3: Leavitt gaggle quotes

Here are some takeaways from the press secretary’s gaggle outside.

On Lindsey Halligan -- Leavitt defended Halligan as being "legally appointed" and "extremely qualified" to act as interim U.S. attorney. The DOJ will soon be appealing federal judge ruling calling her appointment "invalid" and dismissing criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and NY AG Letitia James

On Ukraine/POTUS peace plan -- There is currently no meeting scheduled for President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet.

Leavitt said the White House feels "optimistic" about the president's proposed peace plan to end the war in Russia. The plan has input from both Russia and Ukraine.

Leavitt also dismissed criticism of the plan by some GOP senators.

"The idea that the United States of America is not engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy."

On China - Leavitt mirrored topics of the conversation between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as he put in his Truth post today. The war in Ukraine came up, but the talks were largely focused on trade.

On Zohran Mamdani -- Leavitt said "talk is cheap" when asked about the NYC Mayor-elect doubling down on calling Trump a "fascist" after they met on Friday.

The WH is standing by its belief that the meeting was "positive" and "the President is going to judge Mamdani by his actions that he takes in New York."

Otter link: https://otter.ai/u/7BDeFAFAlov7bGxlX61JSsqxM2Q?utm_source=copy_url

Mica Soellner

Bloomberg Government

Senior White House Reporter

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