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Iran sends chilling message to Karoline Leavitt after White House press sec announced birth of second child
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Karoline Leavitt received a disturbing response from the Iranian embassy after sharing news of the birth of her second child last week.
The White House press secretary, who has served in Donald Trump’s administration since his return to office, posted a photo on Instagram holding her newborn daughter.
Alongside the image, Leavitt wrote: “On May 1st, Viviana aka ‘Vivi’ joined our family, and our hearts instantly exploded with love. She is perfect and healthy, and her big brother is joyfully adjusting to life with his new baby sister.”
She continued: “We are enjoying every moment in our blissful newborn bubble. Thank you to everyone who reached out with prayers during my pregnancy - I truly felt them throughout the entire experience. God is Good.”
Iran's response to the post
Soon after the announcement, the Iranian embassy in Armenia reposted her message on X and responded with a pointed statement criticizing the Trump administration’s actions in the Middle East.
“Congratulations to you. Children are innocent and lovable,” the embassy wrote. “Those 168 children that your boss killed in the school in Minab, and you justified, were also children.”
The message added: “When you kiss your baby, think of the mothers of those child.”
The comments referred to a missile strike earlier this year during the joint US-Israel military campaign against Iran, which reportedly hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab. Officials in the region claimed 168 people were killed, many of them children.
The Iranian embassy in South Africa also shared a separate message aimed at Leavitt, writing: “When your child grows up and reads history, she will be ashamed that you served one of the most hated governments in history.”
The post continued: “Your hands are stained with the blood of many innocent children, like the children of Minab.”
The US Department of War denied targeting civilians
At the time of the strike, US officials denied intentionally targeting civilians. In March, Leavitt told reporters: “The Department of War is investigating this matter.”
She added: “The United States of America does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime that targets civilians, that kills children, that has killed thousands of their own people in the past several weeks and uses propaganda quite effectively.”
Pete Hegseth also addressed the allegations during a Pentagon briefing, saying: “We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”
Trump previously suggested Iran itself may have been responsible for the deaths linked to the attack.
According to UNICEF USA, more than 1,800 children across the Middle East have reportedly been injured or killed since the escalation of fighting earlier this year.
