Leavitt Rips ‘Partisan’ Judge Who Blocked Trump’s Migrant Flights
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly criticized a federal district court judge on Wednesday after he issued an order requiring the return of deported suspected Venezuelan gang members who had entered the country illegally.
Leavitt’s comments followed President Donald Trump’s sharp rebuke of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, whom he referred to as a “radical left lunatic” in response to the temporary block on deportation flights.
Calling Boasberg an “activist” judge, Leavitt also took aim at his wife for her political contributions to Democratic candidates.
“The judge in this case is essentially trying to say the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil. That is an egregious abuse of the bench,” she stated during a press briefing.
Earlier this month, Trump formally classified the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang as a terrorist organization. Utilizing powers granted under the long-standing Alien Enemies Act, he ordered the deportation of hundreds of members last week. However, Boasberg’s ruling argued that Trump lacked the legal authority to carry out the removals.
“This judge cannot, does not, have that authority. It is the opinion of this White House and of this administration. And that’s why we’re fighting this in court. And it’s very, very clear that this is an activist judge who is trying to usurp this president’s authority,” Leavitt continued.
“Under the Alien Enemies Act, the president has the power, and that’s why the deportation campaign will continue. And this judge, Judge Boasberg, is a Democrat activist. He was appointed by Barack Obama,” she added.
Leavitt pointed out that Boasberg’s wife, Elizabeth Manson, has contributed more than $10,000 to Democratic candidates. She further stated that the judge “has consistently shown his disdain for this president and his policies, and it’s unacceptable.”
Earlier in the day, Trump and some Republican lawmakers suggested that Boasberg should be impeached. Leavitt, however, underscored that Trump holds “respect” for Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts, who recently warned that impeachment was “not an appropriate response” to disagreements over judicial decisions.
Boasberg, a native of Washington, D.C., attended Yale Law School and later earned an advanced degree at Oxford. He was appointed by Roberts to lead the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees sensitive cases involving national security and intelligence matters.
During the press briefing, a reporter noted that although Obama later elevated Boasberg, his initial appointment to the Superior Court was made by President George W. Bush. Leavitt countered this by highlighting that “67 percent of all of the injunctions in this century have come against which president? Donald J. Trump.”
She further emphasized: “Let me say that again – 60 percent of the injunctions — bipartisan activists in the judicial branch — have come against President Donald Trump.”
Leavitt also asserted that these legal obstacles were part of a broader effort by “leftists who don’t like this president and are trying to impose or slow down positions.”
Additionally, Leavitt declined to answer when asked why the administration refused to identify the individuals deported to El Salvador, despite images of some of them surfacing on social media.
“We are not going to reveal operational details about a counterterrorism operation,” she replied. “We have the highest degree of confidence in our ICE agents and our Customs Border Patrol agents who have committed their lives to targeting illegal criminals in our country, particularly foreign terrorists.”
Later that day, Boasberg oversaw a tense hearing with Justice Department attorneys and signaled his intention to examine whether the government “deliberately flouted” his order.
Meanwhile, congressional Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, took steps to file articles of impeachment against Boasberg.
“I voted for President Trump, not activist judges! Congress must impeach those obstructing the agenda Americans overwhelmingly supported,” Boebert posted on X.