White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt isn’t here for media games — and she made that crystal clear during Monday’s press briefing when a liberal reporter tried to run cover for one of the most violent transnational gangs operating in the U.S.
Andrew Feinberg, a reliably left-wing White House correspondent for The Independent, tried to score woke points by challenging the Biden-to-Trump immigration shift. He whined that members of Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) are allegedly being deported based “simply” on tattoos and clothing brands. Because apparently, if MS-13 wears Jordans, we’re supposed to let them stay?
“You can get classified by simply having certain symbols in your tattoos and wearing certain streetwear brands,” Feinberg complained. “That alone is enough to get someone classified as TDA and sent to El Salvador?”
Leavitt didn’t miss a beat. “That’s not true, actually, Andrew,” she shot back — and then delivered a verbal smackdown that should be studied in press secretary school.
“Have you talked to the agents who have been putting their lives on the line to detain these foreign terrorists who have been terrorizing our communities?” she asked. “TDA is a vicious gang that has taken the lives of American women.”
But Feinberg wasn’t done embarrassing himself. So Leavitt doubled down: “Shame on you and shame on the mainstream media for trying to cover for these individuals!”
"Shame on you" — Leavitt gets mad at @AndrewFeinberg for asking her about a document indicating that tattoos are all it takes for migrants to get sent to a slave prison in El Salvador pic.twitter.com/bRkfC8uzsy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 31, 2025
She wasn’t exaggerating. TDA is no joke. These are violent criminals involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, and murders. And under the Alien Enemies Act — a law Trump is using for targeted deportations — they’re being removed with good reason.
Feinberg tried to cherry-pick points from a federal deportation guide, which includes a scoring system. Sure, tattoos or hand signs might earn a few points — but as Leavitt pointed out, that’s not the whole story. A minimum of 8 points is required, and at least one must come from recent criminal activity or other verified gang involvement.
Here’s the document I was asking @PressSec about earlier.
To be “validated” as TDA one only needs 8 points. Just having tattoos and wearing certain street wear brands can get you the requisite 8 points absent anything else. https://t.co/vRKoWFnxDg pic.twitter.com/7VsL6MNrK8
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) March 31, 2025
Translation: Nobody’s getting deported for wearing a hoodie.
President Trump has made it clear: if you’re a foreign criminal in this country, your time’s up. Since returning to office in January, he’s ramped up deportations, put troops on the border, and resurrected Remain in Mexico. And yes — under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, 17 TDA gangsters were already kicked out in March.
Feinberg and his media pals may want to protect violent illegals. But Trump — and Leavitt — are protecting Americans.