White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is facing fierce backlash after referring to the devastating Texas floods—which have killed more than 100 people—as an “act of God,” during a Monday press briefing.
Leavitt made the controversial remark while fielding questions about the Trump administration’s response to the deadly disaster, which has gripped central Texas for five days. Torrential rain caused the Guadalupe River to overflow, destroying homes and campsites. Among the dead are at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a historic Christian girls’ camp in Kerr County.
When asked why emergency alerts were issued while most residents were asleep—and what steps the government would take to improve early warnings in future crises—Leavitt deflected blame.
“This was an act of God. It’s not the administration’s fault that the flood hit when it did,” she said, adding that “early and consistent warnings” were issued.
Notably absent from her remarks was any mention of the Trump administration’s decision to downsize and defund critical federal agencies like the National Weather Service (NWS) and FEMA. Both agencies reportedly faced staffing shortages and budget constraints at the time of the disaster, a result of cost-cutting measures implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Social Media Outrage Follows ‘Act of God’ Comment
Leavitt’s response sparked a storm of criticism online, with many accusing the administration of dodging responsibility.
“The more she denies it, the more it seems like it’s kinda the admin’s fault,” one user wrote on X. “An act of God who’s clearly mad about false idols.”
Another post mocked the excuse as a convenient deflection: “They couldn’t blame Biden for this one, so they blamed God.”
Critics also pointed to practical consequences of labeling the disaster an “act of God.” One user wrote, “Good luck trying to get insurance to cover God’s deadly vengeful flood,” while another added, “Most policies exclude acts of God. So there goes any coverage, if there even was any.”
Several users directly linked the government’s weak response to prior budget cuts. “This is what happens when you gut the agencies responsible for forecasting and emergency prep,” one person wrote, referencing DOGE’s reductions to staff at NWS and NOAA.
Press Conference Tense as Administration Faces Tough Questions
During the briefing, one reporter openly challenged Leavitt over the administration’s preparedness and questioned why life-saving alerts weren’t sent out earlier. Leavitt maintained that federal agencies “did their job,” despite mounting evidence that key departments were ill-equipped to respond quickly.
Meanwhile, as public anger intensifies, search and rescue operations continue across central Texas, with crews still combing flood-ravaged areas for survivors and victims.
Leavitt and the White House have yet to release any further clarification on the remark.
