White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned MSNBC host Jen Psaki for her recent remarks dismissing the role of prayer after a deadly school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. During a White House press briefing, Leavitt referred to Psaki’s comments as ‘utterly disrespectful’ to millions of Americans of faith who believe in the power of prayer. Following the tragic incident on Wednesday, Psaki had criticized the use of ‘thoughts and prayers’ as an inadequate response to tragedies, stating that such expressions do not prevent violence or bring back victims.
Psaki, who was previously a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, posted on X calling for a shift away from the common ‘thoughts and prayers’ approach. She argued that politicians frequently fail to offer real solutions, instead relying on religious gestures to address serious issues. During a Wednesday night episode of her MSNBC show, Psaki delivered a tearful monologue in which she criticized the pattern of politicians offering prayers instead of concrete action. ‘Half the politicians in our country have little more to offer than thoughts and prayers,’ she said, adding that the public had become accustomed to such responses.
In response to Psaki’s criticism, Democratic vice president JD Vance defended the role of prayer in times of grief, accusing Ps’tki of attempting to politicize the issue. ‘We pray because our hearts are broken,’ Vance wrote on X. ‘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,’ he added. Vance also questioned the motives behind Psaki’s comments, stating, ‘Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed praying?’ This exchange has intensified the debate over the role of religion and political discourse in times of tragedy.
Meanwhile, some liberal figures have also criticized Psaki for her remarks, arguing that they amount to an attack on religious expression. The controversy has sparked broader discussions about how different political figures approach the topic of faith and crisis response. As the situation in Minneapolis continues to unfold, the debate over the role of prayer in public discourse remains a significant point of contention, especially given the ongoing polarization in American media and politics.