White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took questions from the media on Thursday during her weekly press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Room.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took questions from the media on Thursday during her weekly press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Room.(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took questions from the media on Thursday during her weekly press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Room.

During the briefing, Leavitt, 28, slammed her predecessor, Jen Psaki, as “insensitive” and “disrespectful” after making a comment about families receiving thoughts and prayers. However, her comments seemed to backfire, as many people slammed them as “offensive.”

“Democrats, including former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Minneapolis Jacob Frey, attacked prayer and pushed gun control in the aftermath of yesterday’s shooting,” the reporter asked. “What is the White House’s response to their comments?”

During the briefing, Leavitt, 28, slammed her predecessor, Jen Psaki, as being “insensitive” and “disrespectful” after making a comment about families receiving thoughts and prayers. (Image: AP)

“I saw the comments of my predecessor, Ms. Psaki, ” Leavitt began. “And frankly, I think they’re incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to the tens of millions of Americans of faith across this country who believe in the power of prayer, who believe that prayer works.”

“And who believes the power of prayer works at a time of mourning, like when beautiful, young children were killed while praying in a church,” Leavitt added. ” It is utterly disrespectful to deride the power of prayer in this country and disrespectful to the millions of Americans of faith.”

“And I would encourage Ms. Psaki to pray for these families themselves, who need it right now more than ever,” the press secretary added(Image: AP)

“And I would encourage Ms. Psaki to pray for these families themselves, who need it right now more than ever,” the press secretary added. The comments, however, did not back Leavitt’s statement.

“Prayer only has power if it causes those who pray to act in the right way,” one person said. “The right way means acting to ensure there are no more school shootings. Without that, prayers are useless.”

The comments, however, did not back Leavitt’s statement. (Image: AP)

“Everything about you KKKarolyin is offensive,” a second person sneered. “Especially the cross you wear around your neck as you LIE your ass off every single day to the American people and the world.”

“If prayer worked, there wouldn’t be school shootings anymore based on how many times ‘thoughts and prayers’ have been said about these situations,” a third person added. “Time to stop playing fantasy land and actually do some work. Not hoping a magical imaginary friend is going to fix it.”

Mayor Jacob Frey slammed the usage of “thoughts and prayers.” (Image: Getty Images)

Leavitt’s briefing comes one day after a gunman killed two children at a Minnesota Catholic school. The shooter was later identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, whose mother once worked at the school.

During a media briefing only hours after it was confirmed that Westman had taken his own life, in addition to two others, Mayor Jacob Frey slammed the usage of “thoughts and prayers.” He said, “Don’t just say, this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”

He said, “Don’t just say, this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.” (Image: Getty Images)

“They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence, and their parents should have the same kind of assurance,” Frey added. “These are the sort of basic assurances that every family should have, every step of the day, regardless of where they are in our country.”