Karoline Leavitt Pulls Out the Receipts, Blasts Dems’ Violent Rhetoric Against ICE [WATCH]

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democratic governors and mayors of fueling violence against federal immigration officers, saying hostile rhetoric from elected officials has contributed to attacks, vandalism, and misinformation surrounding recent enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

Leavitt made the remarks while responding to questions about immigration enforcement and unrest in Democrat-led cities, specifically pointing to statements from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other Democratic officials criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents.

“I think I’ve addressed that, that these Democrat governors and mayors in not just Minnesota, but in states across the country are essentially, you know, they’ve referred to ICE agents who, again, are brave men and women,” Leavitt said.

She urged critics of immigration enforcement to engage directly with agents before making public accusations.

“And I would encourage everyone in this room, and I would encourage Governor Walz and other Democrats who are demeaning law enforcement to sit down and have a cup of coffee with an ICE agent or a border patrol agent,” Leavitt said.

“These are great, patriotic men and women who have families who put on the uniform every day and are following our nation’s immigration laws at the direction of their bosses, and again, at the direction of the law. They are simply trying to enforce the law.”

Leavitt said Democratic officials have crossed a line by using inflammatory language to describe federal agents.

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“And the Democrat Party has demeaned these individuals,” she said.

“They’ve even referred to them as Nazis and as the Gestapo, and that is absolutely leading to the violence we’re seeing in the streets.”

She pointed to vandalism that occurred in Minneapolis, where ICE vehicles were damaged during protests.

“If you look at some of the images out of Minneapolis last night, look at this vehicle,” Leavitt said.

“Look at what it says. It says, F ICE. You have these individuals who are putting their middle finger proudly. So at the camera, another ICE individual vehicle that was vandalized last night by these left wing agitators.”

Leavitt argued that such acts do not occur in a vacuum.

“People don’t do this without encouragement from people in power who make them feel like it’s okay,” she said.

She referenced additional images of vandalized vehicles, including one with threatening language directed at agents.

“Here’s another one, and I’m pretty sure this car you can’t see it said the best agent is a dead agent or something to that effect,” Leavitt said.

“This is despicable rhetoric that we’re seeing.”

Leavitt also criticized national media coverage of a recent incident involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis, saying headlines misrepresented the facts.

“And the media is absolutely complicit in this violence,” she said. “Because if you look at the headline from CNN, protests erupt after federal agent shoots man in Minneapolis. That is not the story. That is not the truth.”

She pointed reporters to the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the incident.

“If you actually want to know the truth, you can look at what the Department of Homeland Security released,” Leavitt said.

“Which is that this ICE agent was executing a targeted operation against a Venezuelan illegal alien who was unlawfully present in the country, who fled by car and then fled by foot.”

According to Leavitt, the situation escalated when the agent was attacked.

“And when this ICE agent tried to detain the individual, three more of his comrades came rushing out of a house and started ambushing and attacking the ICE agent,” she said.

“They used a shovel or broom to smash his face in and so, yes, that agent had to use self defense and take up his weapon to protect his own life.”

Leavitt said the Minneapolis incident reflects a broader pattern in Democratic-led jurisdictions.

“That is what’s happening on the streets of Minneapolis,” she said.

“That’s what’s happening on the streets unfortunately, of these Democrat run cities and states where you have elected officials who are encouraging such such violence against our brave men and women in law enforcement.”

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