Earthquake in Utah Sparks Unusual Claim
Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Donald Trump, drew attention this week after she reposted a message linking an earthquake in Utah to the death of Charlie Kirk.
The earthquake, confirmed by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, measured 4.1 on the Richter scale. It struck at 5:57 p.m. local time on September 10, the same night Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University. The epicenter was about 150 miles away from the campus.
The original post, which appeared on X and was later shared by Leavitt on her Instagram Story, pointed to the timing of the quake. It noted that 5:57 p.m. in Utah matched 7:57 p.m. eastern time.
The message then drew a parallel with Acts 7:57 in the Bible, which describes Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, being stoned to death as a crowd tried to silence him. The post added that scripture often says the earth trembles when God is angry.
Leavitt did not offer any further explanation but simply added the word “Wow” when she reshared the message.
Previous Posts Linking Events to Faith
The earthquake post was not the first time Karoline Leavitt highlighted messages tying tragic events to divine or spiritual meaning.
Just weeks before, following the deaths of two children in a Minneapolis church shooting, Leavitt shared another post on Instagram. That message, originally from a conservative lifestyle magazine, claimed a “demonic force” was behind the violence. It argued that political leaders and lawmakers were wrong to focus on issues like the Second Amendment or discrimination, and instead suggested the act was driven by evil.
Leavitt has consistently framed her role in politics as guided by faith. She studied at a Catholic university but often attends non-denominational churches now. She frequently wears a cross necklace, visible during many of her press briefings.
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In interviews, she has described the Trump administration as engaged in a “spiritual battle” against evil forces. Speaking to the Christian Broadcasting Network earlier this year, she credited God with protecting Donald Trump during the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. She said she believed he survived “for a reason” and that God placed him in this moment of history.
Leavitt also revealed that her team prays before each press briefing. She said the group uses that time to ask for confidence, clarity, and protection before addressing the press. She described it as a way to reset and focus on their mission.
Symbolism of Numbers and Scripture
The Utah earthquake post that Leavitt shared relied on biblical symbolism to make its point. The original author argued that in scripture, the number 40 represents trials, while 41 signifies a shift or new phase. Because the earthquake measured 4.1, the post implied this was no coincidence.
It also pointed to Acts 7:57 as a direct link to the time of the quake. In that verse, an angry crowd drags out Saint Stephen and stones him after he testifies to his faith. The post drew a parallel, saying that just as the crowd silenced Stephen’s voice, so too was Charlie Kirk’s silenced on the night of his death. The message added that the earth “groaned” as a sign of divine anger.
Leavitt has not commented further on her repost beyond her brief reaction. Still, her decision to share it added to her pattern of highlighting religious or spiritual explanations for real-world tragedies.
This approach has attracted attention both from supporters who admire her devotion and from critics who see the connections as unusual. Yet for Leavitt, her faith remains a public and visible part of her identity.
Her religious perspective has also surfaced in political settings. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana questioned FBI director Kash Patel about Jeffrey Epstein case files during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this week.
For Leavitt, the combination of public service, politics, and faith appears inseparable. Whether commenting on natural events like earthquakes, violent incidents at churches, or the survival of Donald Trump, she continues to frame them within the context of a larger spiritual struggle.
