On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Trump Administration plans to appeal a controversial ruling made by a judge appointed during Trump’s presidency, during a tense dialogue with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
Collins pressed Leavitt on the apparent contradiction between the President’s insistence on deploying National Guard troops and the real-time situation unfolding in Portland. In a surprising turn, Leavitt countered Collins effectively, asserting the Administration’s position.
As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, Judge Karin Immergut issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Saturday, blocking Trump’s proposed deployment of the Oregon National Guard to Portland. Immergut criticized the decision, suggesting it could instigate a constitutional crisis.
Responding to the ruling, Trump condemned the judge, expressing that he “wasn’t well served” by those who recommended her to him back in 2019. He emphasized that Portland was “burning to the ground,” a dire situation he believes justifies the National Guard’s intervention.
“That Judge ought to be ashamed of themself,” he stated.
Watch:
Trump: “I disagree with that judge. I wasn’t served well. If they put judges like that on, I wasn’t served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you. Things like that are just too bad. I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn’t served well. Obviously, I don’t know the judge, but if he made that kind of a decision—Portland is burning to the ground! You have agitators, insurrectionists—just look at the television, read your newspapers. It’s burning to the ground. The governor, the mayor, the politicians are petrified for their lives, and you have a judge like that. That Judge ought to be ashamed of themself.
Once again, Immergut suspended Trump’s National Guard deployment on Sunday, citing concerns surrounding ongoing violence in Portland, which she referred to as being under siege from “Antifa terrorists.”
In response to the ruling, Leavitt reiterated CNN’s Collins that the Trump Administration would indeed pursue an appeal. This assertion echoed a previous victory in which Trump successfully deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles, assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid escalating tensions.
“Her opinion is untethered in reality and in the law,” Leavitt remarked, expressing confidence in the Administration’s legal standing. “We are appealing that decision. We expect a hearing on it pretty quickly, and we’re very confident in the president’s legal authority.”
Collins, however, tried to counter with statements from local Portland officials asserting the lack of necessity for National Guard troops in the area. In a fiery exchange, Leavitt urged Collins to go see the situation first-hand, highlighting that many journalists have documented attacks from Antifa during the unrest. She challenged Collins to airs clips of the chaos on her prime-time show.
When Collins returned to her original line of questioning, Leavitt attributed the narrative to “partisan Democrat officials.” She contended, “We’ve heard from community members saying this is complete civil disobedience, it’s a mess, and it’s been loud and troubling for neighbors desperately trying to live peacefully. These individuals are not here to peacefully protest; they are here to create chaos.”
Watch the full exchange below:
Collins: “A federal judge over the weekend that the President had appointed to the bench in his first term in office basically argued that he could not deploy other states’ National Guards to Portland, claiming that it was untethered to what was actually occurring on the ground. Which local officials in Portland have corroborated the need for National Guard troops?”
Leavitt: “With all due respect to that judge, her opinion is untethered in reality and in the law. The President is exercising his rights as Commander in Chief, U.S. Code 12 406, which clearly states that he has the authority to mobilize the National Guard as needed. And given the events in Portland—ongoing violence for over 100 nights with the ICE facility being under attack—we are asserting the necessity of a National Guard presence.”
Collins: “But you can’t point to any local officials asking for it? I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week, and he stated that the President’s claims don’t reflect the reality.”
Leavitt: “I urge you as a reporter to see it for yourself on the ground. Independent journalists have documented these riots. You could very well showcase their evidence on your show. This gives you a terrific opportunity to inform your viewers.”
Collins: “But there are no local officials—”
Leavitt: “You’re likely consulting with partisan officials who oppose everything this president does. You should also hear from Portland residents. We have numerous community members expressing concern over the civil disobedience and chaos, a troubling situation for those merely seeking a peaceful life. This isn’t about peaceful protest; it’s about instigating anarchy.”
