White House Rips Into Justice Barrett’s SCOTUS Vote, Leavitt Frames Ruling as a Conservative Win Despite Tight Margin

In a press conference laced with both celebration and veiled criticism, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hailed the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling on deportation flights to El Salvador as a crucial win for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda — but she made no attempt to hide her dissatisfaction with Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s unexpected siding with the liberal wing of the court.

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“This should have been a unanimous decision,” Leavitt told reporters. “The law is clear. The president acted within his constitutional rights, and we’re grateful the Court affirmed that — even if it wasn’t by the margin we hoped for.”

While never mentioning Barrett directly, Leavitt’s remarks struck a tone of frustration. Her words suggested disappointment that the justice, appointed by Trump himself, would oppose a critical part of his national security platform. Leavitt’s broader message was one of resolve, reaffirming Trump’s commitment to reasserting control over immigration and deportation policies.

She didn’t hold back when speaking about Judge James Boasberg, who had originally blocked the deportation flights, calling him a “rogue, activist judge” who had “relentlessly tried to strip away the president’s powers.” According to Leavitt, the Supreme Court put Boasberg “in his place,” restoring constitutional balance and ensuring the executive branch could do its job in protecting American citizens.

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Leavitt also doubled down on the use of the Alien Enemies Act, asserting that the administration now had the green light to remove individuals she characterized as “foreign terrorist invaders.” She closed her remarks by thanking the Supreme Court for “defending the Constitution” — a phrase aimed at reinforcing the administration’s belief that it is acting within legal and moral bounds, despite narrow judicial victories.

Even so, legal experts note the fine print of the ruling: detainees must still be given a chance to challenge their deportations in court, meaning the legal battle is far from over.