White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply rebuked a reporter during a Wednesday press briefing, dismissing a question about peaceful protests as stupid when asked to clarify President Donald Trump’s stance on demonstrations.
The exchange occurred when NOTUS White House correspondent Jasmine Wright questioned Leavitt about what type of protests Trump would find acceptable, following the president’s warning that demonstrators at Saturday’s military parade would face very heavy force.
Wright initially asked Leavitt to clarify what kind of protest President Trump supports or finds acceptable. Leavitt responded that the president absolutely supports peaceful protests and the First Amendment, stating he supports Americans’ right to make their voices heard while opposing violence and assaults on law enforcement officers.
When Wright sought further clarification by asking whether peaceful protests would be allowed at Saturday’s military parade, Leavitt’s tone shifted dramatically. She told Wright that of course the president supports peaceful protests before adding her pointed criticism of the question.
The reporter appeared visibly shocked at the treatment, according to multiple accounts of the exchange. Leavitt was observed grinning after making her remark before quickly moving on to the next question during the 26-minute briefing.
The military parade in question is scheduled for Saturday in Washington, D.C., marking the Army’s 250th anniversary. The $45 million event, which falls on Trump’s 79th birthday, is expected to feature displays of military hardware and thousands of soldiers along Constitution Avenue and at the Ellipse.
Trump had issued warnings from the Oval Office on Tuesday about potential protesters, stating that anyone who protests the event would be met with very big force. He characterized potential protesters as people who hate the country, suggesting they might even be paid insurrectionists.
The White House, Capitol, and certain roadways have been outlined with fencing ahead of Saturday’s events. Organizers with the No Kings movement are planning demonstrations across the country to coincide with the military parade and concert, though they have encouraged protesters to avoid Washington, D.C., proper due to the robust security response.
Instead, No Kings organizers have recommended people protest in Philadelphia or in suburban Maryland and Virginia rather than in the nation’s capital. The group is coordinating demonstrations to coincide with the military display.
During the same briefing, Leavitt addressed ongoing protests in Los Angeles related to Trump’s mass deportation plan, with demonstrations also occurring in major cities including New York and Chicago. She displayed photographs of burning cars during the briefing to justify Trump’s decision to federalize California’s National Guard and deploy U.S. Marines to address the unrest.
Leavitt indicated that Trump saw images of foreign flags being waved by what she characterized as illegal criminals and violent rioters amid burning vehicles, prompting his deployment of National Guard members and Marines to help quell the violence. She announced that nearly 400 illegal aliens had been arrested in riots since June 6, with hundreds of people accused of assaulting law enforcement officers.
The press secretary revealed that one protester, described as an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement officers during riots in Paramount on Saturday. That individual now faces attempted murder charges.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed suit over the National Guard deployment, arguing that Trump lacked authority to federalize the state’s Guard without the governor’s consent. When asked whether other Democratic governors would be consulted before similar deployments, Leavitt indicated that Trump had been in contact with Newsom despite recent claims otherwise.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew on downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of Wednesday morning following the arrest of 200 protesters throughout the night. The curfew runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and applies to approximately one square mile enclosed by the 5, 10, and 110 freeways, representing a small portion of the 500-square-mile city.
The curfew does not apply to area residents, homeless individuals, media members, or public safety personnel. Bass announced the measure on social media, stating it was implemented to stop bad actors taking advantage of what she termed the president’s chaotic escalation.
The confrontational exchange between Leavitt and Wright occurred amid broader tensions over immigration enforcement and protest activities nationwide. The incident highlighted the administration’s defensive posture regarding questions about the balance between security measures and constitutional rights.
