White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins during a heated exchange over President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, where violent clashes have persisted for weeks.
Collins questioned the necessity of sending National Guard troops to the city, referencing comments from Portland’s police chief who said the president’s characterization of the situation “don’t match up with what’s happening on the ground.” The exchange highlighted mounting tensions between the White House and some media outlets over coverage of the administration’s response to ongoing protests and demonstrations.
The Press Secretary’s Response
Leavitt pushed back sharply, suggesting Collins had relied on partisan sources rather than investigating firsthand. “I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and take a look for yourself,” Leavitt said.
The press secretary pointed to independent journalists who have documented the unrest. “There have been many members of the press – not the press in this room but independent journalists – some of whom we’ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories,” Leavitt said. “They have been in the middle of these riots and have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night.”
Leavitt accused Collins of speaking with “partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does” and urged reporters to consult Portland residents directly affected by the unrest.
The Legal Challenge
A federal judge blocked Trump’s deployment plan with a late-night ruling Sunday. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, issued an emergency temporary restraining order, determining the deployment violated federal statute and the Tenth Amendment.
Immergut wrote that Oregon and Portland “are likely to succeed on their claim that the President exceeded his constitutional authority and violated the Tenth Amendment.” The order prohibited deployment of National Guard troops from California, other states, or Washington, D.C. into Oregon.
The judge stated that recent incidents of protesters clashing with federal officers “are inexcusable, but they are nowhere near the type of incidents that cannot be handled by regular law enforcement forces.”
Administration’s Position
Trump has defended sending National Guard troops, arguing local officials failed to maintain order and protect federal property. Leavitt said the president’s actions aimed to restore safety for residents and law enforcement officers caught in nightly clashes between demonstrators and federal agents.