White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. / Evan Vucci/AP

Both chambers of Congress return to Washington, D.C., on Monday after Thanksgiving recess, working through the remainder of the year on government funding bills. Ongoing negotiations continue in the Senate as the deadline is set to expire for the Affordable Care Act tax credits by the end of the year. The House is expected to hold votes on several education-related bills this week as well as two bills related to the Small Business Administration.

Trump administration officials continued over the weekend to hold talks toward securing a deal to end Russia`s war in Ukraine. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with the Russian president in Moscow early this week.

WH dodges question regarding survivors killed during 2nd strike on drug boat

When asked about two survivors who were allegedly killed after a second strike was authorized on a boat suspected of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dodged the question, deferring to the Department of Defense.

"I think you guys are sort of not listening fully to the statement I provided. Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed and the threat to the narco-terrorists to the United States was eliminated," Leavitt said in response to the question from ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott about the administration`s inability to confirm or deny whether there were any survivors.

"For any questions about his thinking, I would defer you to the Department of War," Leavitt said.

Trump`s MRI results reveal president is in `excellent overall health,` Leavitt says

President Donald Trump`s MRI conducted back in October "confirms that he remains in excellent overall health," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing on Monday.

Leavitt, who announced the president`s MRI results, said the imaging was performed to "identify any issues early, confirm overall health and ensure the president maintains longterm vitality and function."

Trump`s cardiovascular and abdominal imaging was "perfectly normal," Leavitt said.

Leavitt defends Trump`s pardon of former Honduras president

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to questions about Trump`s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers move cocaine through his country to the U.S.

Asked about Trump`s pardon and how it`s different than the administration`s dealing with Venezuela`s Nicolas Maduro, Leavitt said Hernandez "was set up."

"This was a clear Biden over-prosecution. He was the president of this country. He was in the opposition party. He was opposed to the values of the previous administration, and they charged him because he was president of Honduras," Leavitt said during Monday`s press briefing.

WH says Adm. Bradley gave order on 2nd strike on drug boat

When asked about the report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the military to kill all passengers aboard a boat suspected of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Adm. Mitch Bradley made the order for the second strike.

"Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was completely eliminated."

"The initial order, from Secretary Haig said, `everyone be killed,` and that that come from President Trump," Leavitt said.

Leavitt added the strike was "conducted in self-defense to protect Americans and vital United States interests."

White House says `mass deportation operation` must continue after DC National Guard shooting

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House is "praying" for the family of Andrew Wolfe, the National Guardsmen who was injured during a shooting in Washington, D.C., last week.

Leavitt said the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

She also said "in the wake of last week`s atrocity, it is more important than ever to finish carrying out the president`s mass-deportation operation."

"America cannot allow millions upon millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be rewarded with amnesty," Leavitt said.

She added that it is "essential to immediately address the massive fraud and corruption that has been going on for decades."