Trump's New Press Secretary Sets a Strong Tone in Fiery First Briefing
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in U.S. history, made a bold entrance at her first White House press briefing on Tuesday, delivering a firm and direct message regarding President Donald Trump’s latest immigration enforcement initiative. At just 27 years old, Leavitt wasted no time in defending the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration policy.
The briefing focused on a sweeping national immigration operation conducted this month, during which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced thousands of arrests. This operation, recognized as the most extensive since Trump’s return to office, underscored the administration’s renewed commitment to enforcing strict immigration laws.
Leavitt was questioned about the specifics: “3,500 arrests ICE has made so far since President Trump came back into office. Can you just tell us the numbers? How many have a criminal record versus those who are just in the country illegally?”
“All of them [are criminals] because they illegally broke our nation’s laws, and therefore, they are criminals as far as this administration goes,” Leavitt responded. “I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal—but that’s exactly what they are.”
She reinforced the Trump administration’s unwavering stance on “law and order,” emphasizing that unauthorized entry into the country constitutes a criminal act in itself. When pressed further on the issue, she stood her ground, stating once again, “Yes, they are criminals if they violated our country’s laws.”
Leavitt’s assertive performance at the podium may well define her tenure. Her prior experience includes serving as the national press secretary for Trump’s 2024 campaign and as communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). She initially entered the political sphere as an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first term and was officially appointed White House press secretary by President Trump in November following his election victory.
ICE reported a sharp rise in enforcement efforts, with a record-breaking 1,179 arrests on Monday alone. This marked the highest number of detentions in a single day since Trump resumed office just a week ago, highlighting the administration’s intensified crackdown on unauthorized immigration.
According to figures released on ICE’s X account, a total of 3,552 arrests have been recorded since the operation began last Thursday. Under the Biden administration, ICE’s report indicated that the average daily arrest rate for noncitizens with criminal convictions or ongoing charges was 310.7 for the fiscal year ending on September 30. The recent surge in activity represents a significant departure from that trend.
In the days leading up to Monday’s peak, ICE made 538 arrests on Thursday, 593 on Friday, 286 on Saturday, and 956 on Sunday. Nearly 1,000 arrests took place in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin. Reports suggest that President Trump remains unsatisfied with the current pace and has directed ICE to escalate daily arrests to 1,500. This would involve setting quotas for field offices and coordinating efforts with federal agencies like the FBI and DEA to target individuals deemed threats to national security or public safety.