WASHINGTON – Children took over the White House press briefing ‒ and they asked what's on everyone's mind. DoesPresident Donald Trumplike to give hugs? "Yes, I do think he likes to give hugs," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded. What's his favorite food? "He likes to eat big, beautiful steak," Leavitt said. The occasion was "Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day." To belatedly celebrate the event, the White House welcomed the children of reporters who make up the White House press corps and White House staff to the press briefing room on May 20. Leavitt brought her baby boy. More:Trump lashes out at Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie: 'He should be voted out of office' Young children sat in the seats their mom or dad usually occupied and demanded answers ‒ with sweet, high-pitch voices ‒ on Trump's favorite flavor of ice cream (an ice cream sundae) and his favorite president besides himself (George Washington, Leavitt guessed, but wasn't 100% certain.) One of the kid reporters, however, posed a much more audacious ‒ and timely ‒ question: "How many people has he fired?" a little girl, probably about 4 years old, asked from the front row. More:'Don't f--- around with Medicaid': Trump works to clear out GOP opposition to policy bill Leavitt laughed, then said: "Thus far, actually, we've not had anyone fired, with the exception of one individual who did leave their job, but we have a great team here. So far, so good." Leavitt did not specify who she was referencing. Perhaps shemeant Mike Waltz, Trump's former national security adviser,who left his position on May 1 before Trump nominated him as U.S. ambassador to the United States. Trump, of course, earned a reputation for being quick to fire White House aides during his first term. Before then, "You're fired" was Trump's go-to line during his run on NBC's "The Apprentice." And since returning to the White House, Trump has taken a battering ram to the federal workforce. During the first four months of his second term, the Trump administration ‒ with help fromElon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency ‒has fired tens of thousands of employeesfrom the federal workforce, with even more choosing to resign through buyouts, in a push to gut the federal bureaucracy. The White House has not said how many federal workers have been fired through the DOGE cuts.But ananalysis from Reuters found the Trump administration had cut 12% of the 2.3 million federal civilian workforce, with about 260,000 taking buyouts or other incentives to quit. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'How many people has he fired?' young girl asks Trump press secretary
