White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is defending recent comments about the rise of the far left, arguing that a mix of "laziness" and what she called liberal indoctrination in higher education has contributed to the political shift among some young Americans.
According to the New York Post, Leavitt, 28, addressed the issue Sunday in a series of posts on X after critics reacted to remarks she made during an interview last week with Fox News host Jesse Watters.
She accused what she described as "bad faith" critics of taking her comments out of context and said she had fully explained the factors she believes are driving support for far-left political movements.
"A combination of laziness, yes, and the liberal indoctrination that has been taking place in our education system for far too long," Leavitt wrote.
She went on to argue that college campuses are promoting ideas that discourage personal responsibility.
"There are far-left educators pumping students' heads with garbage, convincing them that hard work and sacrifice won't pay off down the road because they want them totally reliant on the government instead," she wrote.
Leavitt also emphasized that she was not referring to all members of Generation Z and praised many young Americans for their work ethic.
"It's also true that many Gen Z Americans are hardworking, entrepreneurial, and deeply patriotic, and it's vital we protect the American Dream for them," she wrote.
Leavitt's comments came as President Donald Trump and members of his administration have increased criticism of candidates aligned with the democratic socialist movement following a series of Democratic primary victories in heavily Democratic districts.
President Trump and Leavitt have both described some of those candidates as "communists," while many of the candidates have identified themselves as socialists rather than communists.
During her interview with Watters, Leavitt warned that a "communist revolution" was taking shape in Congress and called Communism the nation's greatest threat in 250 years.
She also suggested that expanding school choice could help counter what she sees as growing political influence from the far left.
Trump echoed similar concerns during his Independence Day speeches at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall.
"Our warriors did not fight Communism on battlefields across the world only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. We're not going to let it happen," Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance has also warned Republicans not to dismiss the appeal of left-wing populism, arguing that the movement has gained significant support in some parts of the country.