Fact Check: Did Karoline Leavitt blame Kamala Harris for starting the Iran war?

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has directed repeated US airstrikes against Iranian military sites, ports, and infrastructure after a June ceasefire agreement over the Strait of Hormuz collapsed. Amid the escalating US-Iran conflict, a viral post from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed former Vice President Kamala Harris for starting the conflict, claiming that Trump would bring it to an end.

Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Karoline Leavitt allegedly said Kamala Harris got US into Iran war

The X post by @TheFungi669 attributed a statement to Karoline Leavitt, claiming that “Kamala Harris got us into this reckless war with Iran and President Trump will get us out of it.” 

The post, shared by an account that describes itself sarcastically as “Captain Obvious,” gained more than 1.2 million views and sparked debate over who should be held responsible for the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

The claim circulated amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran following a series of military actions. In June 2025, Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, and the United States later joined the operation with Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting facilities including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. 

The strikes involved B-2 bombers, GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, and Tomahawk missiles, with the Trump administration saying the operation significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, intelligence assessments differed over the extent and duration of the damage.

A US-brokered ceasefire brought the initial 12-day conflict to an end on June 24, but tensions between the two countries continued and later escalated into broader military confrontations. The viral claim used these events to assign responsibility to Kamala Harris and portray Trump as the leader who could resolve the conflict.

Fact Check: False, the quote is fabricated

The claim is false. No, Karoline Leavitt did not publicly blame Kamala Harris for starting the war with Iran. The viral quote appears to be fabricated, and there is no credible evidence that Leavitt made the statement.

Instead, Kamala Harris has criticized the Trump administration’s approach to Iran, arguing that Trump’s actions led the United States into a conflict that the American public did not support. 

Harris said that, had she won the 2024 presidential election, she would not have initiated such military action. 

Leavitt, who serves as the White House press secretary, has defended the Trump administration’s decisions regarding Iran, including its military operations and diplomatic efforts. 

However, she has not been shown to have made the viral claim blaming Harris for starting the conflict. The post misrepresents the political debate by falsely attributing a statement to Leavitt.