The Trump White House won’t let the media walk all over them. They’re fighting back with every chance they get.
And the White House Press Secretary just went nuclear on this deranged reporter.
At a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t hold back when a reporter challenged the Department of Homeland Security’s methods for identifying members of the brutal Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang. The confrontation erupted after the reporter questioned the specific standards used to classify someone as a member of the violent group, pointing to a document that lists eight criteria—including tattoos featuring “certain symbols” and “wearing certain streetwear brands.”
“That alone is enough to get someone classified as TDA and sent to El Salvador,” the reporter, identified as Andrew, claimed. Leavitt was quick to shut that down. “That’s not true actually, Andrew,” she shot back, even as he doubled down, insisting the document supported his point.
Unfazed, Leavitt turned the tables. “No, according to the Department of Homeland Security and the agents—have you talked to the agents who have been putting their lives on the line to detain these foreign terrorists who have been terrorizing our communities?” she demanded.
Her frustration was palpable as she emphasized the real-world stakes. “TDA is a vicious gang that has taken the lives of American women,” she said, brushing off the reporter’s attempt to clarify that he wasn’t denying the gang’s brutality.
Leavitt laid out the facts with precision. “And our agents on the front lines take deporting these people with the utmost seriousness, and there is a litany of criteria that they use to ensure that these individuals qualify as foreign terrorists and to ensure that they qualify for deportation,” she explained. She tied the effort directly to President Donald Trump’s agenda, noting his promise of a “mass deportation campaign of not just foreign terrorists, but also illegal criminal aliens who have been wreaking havoc on American communities.”
The press secretary didn’t stop there. She took aim at the reporter and his ilk, delivering a stinging rebuke: “And shame on you and shame on the mainstream media for trying to cover for these individuals.” Andrew pushed back, denying any intent to defend the gang, but Leavitt wasn’t buying it. “This is a vicious gang, Andrew. This is a vicious gang that has taken the lives of American women,” she repeated, her voice sharp with conviction. “And you said yourself there are eight criteria on that document, and you are questioning the credibility of these agents who are putting their life on the line to protect your life and the life of everybody in this group and everybody across the country.”
She capped it off with a nod to the administration’s resolve. “And their credibility should be questioned? They finally have a president who is allowing them to do their jobs and God bless them for doing it,” she said.
WATCH:
MASTERCLASS: @PressSec shuts down reporter who defends violent illegal gang members
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 31, 2025
Q: "You can get classified by simply having certain symbols on your tattoos?!"
LEAVITT: "That's not true, actually. Have you talked to the agents who have been putting their lives on the line to… pic.twitter.com/Rhfrs1nJFX
The clash unfolded against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s aggressive push to deport gang members. Just this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. military had “transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including m*rderers and r*pists” to El Salvador.
In a statement, Rubio hailed the move as a vital step to protect Americans, crediting Trump’s decision to designate TDA and MS-13 as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. “These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens,” he declared, also thanking El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for his “unparalleled partnership” in the fight against transnational crime.
The Trump Administration’s Stand Against Leftist Media
This isn’t just a one-off spat—it’s a glimpse into how the Trump administration is taking on what they see as a biased, out-of-touch Leftist media. From day one, Trump and his team have made it clear they’re done playing nice with reporters they accuse of spinning narratives to shield criminals and undermine national security. Leavitt’s sharp words reflect a deeper resolve: no more letting the press dictate the story or soften the edges of hard truths.
The administration’s approach is a full-on rejection of what they call the media’s soft-on-crime playbook. While outlets like CNN and The New York Times churn out pieces questioning the optics or logistics of mass deportations, Trump’s inner circle is focused on action—rounding up gang members, child r*pists, and m*rderers, and shipping them out.
They’re betting that Americans care more about safe streets than the hand-wringing of coastal elites. And when reporters like Andrew try to poke holes in the process, they’re met with a wall of defiance, as Leavitt demonstrated.
It’s a calculated strategy, too. By calling out the media directly—“shame on you” isn’t just a throwaway line—Trump’s team is rallying their base and signaling they won’t be cowed by accusations of overreach or insensitivity.
They’re framing the press as complicit, more interested in protecting their own agenda than the lives of everyday citizens. With each deportation flight and each public smackdown of a reporter, the administration is doubling down on its promise to put America first, no matter how loud the Leftist media squawks.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
