In a tense and revealing exchange that laid bare the stark divide between the Trump Administration and the liberal media, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a powerful rebuttal to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. The confrontation centered on a federal judge’s decision to block the deployment of the National Guard to the anarchic streets of Portland, a city that has endured over 100 nights of violent unrest. Collins, echoing the sentiments of local Democratic officials, attempted to suggest that President Trump’s view of the situation was “untethered” from reality, a narrative Leavitt systematically dismantled.
With firm resolve, Leavitt confirmed the administration’s immediate plan to fight the ruling, stating, “We are appealing that decision, as you know, we expect a hearing on it pretty quickly, and we’re very confident in the president’s legal authority to do this, and we’re very confident we will win on the merits of the law.” She anchored the President’s authority in clear legal precedent, specifically U.S. Code 12 406, which grants the Commander-in-Chief the power to call up the National Guard when he deems it necessary to protect federal property and uphold the law.
Pushing a narrative that has become all too common from the corporate media, Collins repeatedly cited local Portland officials who claimed the National Guard was not needed. She challenged Leavitt, saying, “But, no local officials that you can point to that have said, ‘we need the National Guard?’ Because I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week. He said that the President’s claims just don’t match up with what’s happening on the ground.” This line of questioning deliberately ignored the visible chaos and instead parroted the talking points of those who have allowed their city to descend into lawlessness.
In a stunning moment that exposed the media’s detachment, Leavitt turned the tables and issued a direct challenge to the CNN anchor. She urged Collins to look beyond partisan sources and witness the truth for herself, saying, “I would encourage you as a reporter to go on the ground and to take a look at it for yourself because there’s been many members of the press… they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night. It’s on video. You should play it on your show. You have a great opportunity on prime time on CNN to show your audience—” This powerful indictment highlighted the media’s refusal to report on the full scale of the violence perpetrated by Antifa and other agitators.
When Collins again fell back on the claims of local Democrats, Leavitt masterfully reframed the issue, pointing out that the media was consulting the very people enabling the crisis. “Yeah, but you’re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does,” Leavitt stated. She redirected the focus to the citizens of Portland who are suffering, adding, “You should also ask the people who live in Portland. We’ve actually heard from many members of the community who have said that this is complete civil disobedience, it’s a mess, it’s been loud, it’s been troubling for neighbors in the community, who are just trying to live peacefully. And these people are not there to peacefully protest. They are there to cause mayhem and have it.” This underscored the administration’s commitment to the silent majority of law-abiding Americans whose lives are being upended by a fringe minority of violent radicals.
The entire exchange served as a microcosm of the broader political struggle, where a President fighting to restore order is systematically undermined by a media apparatus in league with local officials who refuse to condemn violence in their own cities. President Trump’s commitment to appealing the judge’s decision demonstrates his unwavering pledge to use every tool at his disposal to protect American citizens and uphold the rule of law, regardless of the political headwinds and biased reporting he faces.