President Donald Trump used remarks at Thursday morning's National Prayer Breakfast to firmly defend key members of his administration, praising Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard amid what he described as unfair media and political attacks.
Speaking before lawmakers and faith leaders at the Washington Hilton, Trump said his administration is delivering historic results on border security, public safety, and election integrity, crediting Noem and Gabbard as central to those efforts.
Trump dismissed recent speculation about Noem's standing in the administration, referencing questions raised during a taped interview to be shown during Sunday's Super Bowl.
"They were saying, 'Are you going to relieve Kristi Noem of her duties?'" Trump said. "No, no. Why would I do that? We have the strongest border in the history of our country."
Trump pointed to what he described as record-low crime levels, saying the nation is experiencing the best crime numbers in more than a century.
He credited aggressive border enforcement and interior security measures for the improvement, contrasting his administration's approach with what he called years of failure under former President Joe Biden.
"We have the lowest crime numbers going back to the year 1900," Trump said. "Despite what we inherited, it's under control now."
In remarks broadcast live on Newsmax, Trump also praised Gabbard, who now oversees national and international intelligence, saying she has faced unjust criticism for taking election integrity concerns seriously.
He noted Gabbard recently reviewed election-related issues in Georgia at the request of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
"She took a lot of heat," Trump said. "Why is she doing it? Because she's smart."
Trump pushed back on claims that such actions were outside Gabbard's role, arguing that concerns over foreign interference and election security fall squarely within national intelligence responsibilities.
"The same people said Russia was screwing our elections for years," Trump said. "Now they say nobody should look at anything."
He praised both Gabbard and Bondi for their work, calling them part of an "unbelievable bench" of leaders restoring accountability and transparency to the federal government.
Throughout the speech, Trump emphasized unity within his cabinet and confidence in his leadership team, saying his administration is producing results across national security, energy, and economic growth.
He framed the criticism of Noem and Gabbard as part of broader media hostility toward his presidency.
Trump also thanked members of Congress and administration officials in attendance, stressing that faith, strength, and competent leadership are guiding principles of his second term.
"We have a great country," Trump said. "We have tremendous leaders, and we're bringing it back stronger than ever."
The National Prayer Breakfast, an annual bipartisan event, provided Trump a high-profile platform to defend his allies while reinforcing his message that firm leadership and faith-based values are driving the nation's resurgence.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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