Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt encountered an awkward moment during a routine White House press briefing when discussing a federal judge's recent ruling.
According to The Express, Leavitt was promptly corrected by a reporter after incorrectly labeling U.S. District Judge James Boasberg as a "democratic activist," leading to visible amusement among other journalists present at the briefing.
The exchange highlighted the ongoing tension surrounding Judge Boasberg's recent ruling against President Trump's deportation policy, which relied on the rarely-used Alien Enemies Act. The judge's decision blocked the administration's attempts to deport individuals under their custody, particularly focusing on alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The Trump administration faced significant pushback after attempting to implement deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, a law that has only been utilized three times in U.S. history during congressionally declared wars. Judge Boasberg's intervention came at a critical moment when planes carrying deportees were already en route to El Salvador.
The situation became more complex when El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced the arrival of over 200 deportees despite the judge's order. White House communications director Steven Cheung appeared to celebrate this development by sharing Bukele's post.
The administration's actions prompted Judge Boasberg to question whether they had deliberately disregarded his verbal instructions regarding the deportation flights. The judge expressed particular concern about the timing of the flights and the administration's interpretation of his orders.
Deputy Associate Attorney General Abhishek Kambli defended the administration's position by arguing that only the written order, issued approximately 45 minutes after the verbal directive, was legally binding. He maintained that the planes that had already departed could not be recalled.
President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Judge Boasberg's decision. Trump wrote:
If a President doesn't have the right to throw murderers, and other criminals, out of our Country because a Radical Left Lunatic Judge wants to assume the role of President, then our Country is in very big trouble, and destined to fail!
The administration's stance on national security concerns prevented them from providing detailed information about the deportations during the court proceedings. This position further complicated the already tense situation between the judiciary and executive branches.
The reporter's correction of Leavitt revealed Judge Boasberg's bipartisan appointment history. Initially appointed to the D.C. Superior Court by President George W. Bush, he was later elevated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Some Republican lawmakers have called for Judge Boasberg's impeachment following his ruling against the administration's deportation policy. These demands reflect the growing political tension surrounding immigration enforcement measures.
The controversy has sparked renewed debate about the scope of executive power in immigration matters and the role of judicial oversight in policy implementation.
The contentious exchange between Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the White House press corps highlighted the ongoing disputes over immigration policy enforcement and judicial authority. The incident occurred as the administration attempted to implement aggressive deportation measures using the Alien Enemies Act, leading to a confrontation with Judge James Boasberg. The situation remains unresolved as questions persist about the administration's compliance with judicial orders and the fate of deportees already transferred to El Salvador.
