A tense exchange unfolded in the White House briefing room this week when press secretary Karoline Leavitt sparred with journalist Niall Stanage of The Hill over the death of a protester in Minneapolis.
The confrontation, which quickly became personal, centered on the actions of an ICE agent who shot 37-year-old Renee Good, sparking outrage and unrest in the city.
Reporter Questions ICE Accountability
Stanage pressed Leavitt on statistics surrounding ICE, asking: “Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year, 170 U.S. citizens were detained by ICE, and Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE agent.
How does that equate to them doing everything correctly?”
Leavitt immediately countered with a question of her own, asking why Good had been “unfortunately and tragically killed.”
The back-and-forth quickly escalated as Stanage answered that the officer had acted recklessly, prompting a fiery response from the press secretary.
Leavitt Launches Personal Attack
Leavitt accused Stanage of bias, claiming he was masquerading as a journalist while pushing a left-wing agenda.
She criticized him for not covering American citizens allegedly killed by illegal immigrants and praised ICE agents for their work in removing dangerous individuals from communities.
“You shouldn’t even be sitting in that seat, but you’re pretending like you’re a journalist,” Leavitt said, adding that his question “proves your bias.”
She referenced other victims she claims were ignored by the media and painted ICE agents as “brave” defenders of public safety.
The Minneapolis Incident That Sparked Riots
The controversy stems from Renee Good’s death last week.
Good, a mother of three, was shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after allegedly driving her SUV toward him during a protest against Trump’s immigration policies.
Her killing has triggered riots and ongoing unrest across Minneapolis, a city known for its Democratic stronghold.
Tensions escalated overnight when another person was wounded by federal agents amid the ongoing protests, which have continued despite freezing temperatures.
Trump Threatens the Insurrection Act
In response to the unrest, former President Donald Trump warned on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he could invoke the Insurrection Act, a law from the 19th century that allows the president to deploy military forces for law enforcement purposes.
Trump framed the threat as a response to “corrupt politicians of Minnesota” and “professional agitators.”
The law, last used in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict, has not been invoked in over 30 years.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to use it in recent months, though he has yet to take that step, prompting accusations of authoritarian overreach.
White House Response
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked whether Trump should invoke the law but remained noncommittal.
“I think that the President has that opportunity in the future. It’s his constitutional right,” she said.
When pressed about the likelihood of action, she added, “I don’t know.”
The situation in Minneapolis remains tense, with ongoing protests and political debates about the limits of federal authority, the role of ICE, and the balance between law enforcement and civil liberties.
Fallout for the Media and Public Debate
Leavitt’s confrontation with Stanage has drawn attention to the growing polarization in media interactions at the White House.
Critics say her personal attack on a journalist underlines the heightened tensions between government spokespeople and the press, especially over contentious issues like immigration enforcement and the use of federal authority.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis braces for further protests as the city continues to grapple with the aftermath of Renee Good’s death, federal responses, and the wider national debate over immigration policy enforcement and civil unrest.
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