Karoline Leavitt Blasts Democrats and Media Over Prioritization of MS-13 Gang Member: “It’s Atrocious”
Washington, D.C. — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered an unflinching rebuke Tuesday of what she characterized as the media’s glorification of a known MS-13 gang member and the Democrat Party’s misplaced priorities, sharply criticizing lawmakers for focusing on the welfare of a deported foreign national over American victims of illegal alien violence.
Her remarks come amid growing controversy over Democrat efforts to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and alleged MS-13 operative, to the United States after his deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT supermax prison. Leavitt emphasized that while Democrats portray Garcia as a “Maryland dad,” they ignore his criminal background and terrorist affiliations.
“Based on the sensationalism of many in this room, you’d think we deported a candidate for Father of the Year,” Leavitt stated. “Many in this country care more about this ‘Maryland father’ illegal alien MS-13 gang member than a Maryland mother and an American citizen who was brutally murdered.”
Leavitt contrasted the outcry over Garcia’s deportation with the silence that surrounded the brutal murder of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five killed in Maryland by another illegal alien, Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez. A jury recently found Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder, rape, and assault. The victim’s body was discovered in a drainage tunnel following a violent ambush in August 2023.
“Our hearts go out to Rachel’s family,” said Leavitt. “But they will never get her back. This administration stands with them—not with criminal foreign nationals.”
Democrats’ Trip to El Salvador Condemned
Leavitt took direct aim at Democrats like Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who announced he would travel to El Salvador to pressure President Nayib Bukele into releasing Garcia from prison.
“It’s mind-boggling,” Leavitt said when asked by reporter Matthew Foldi about the priorities of Senate Democrats. “They’re spending more time defending illegal immigrant gang members than their own constituents.”
Leavitt accused Democrats of neglecting the American public and openly aiding foreign nationals who pose a danger to public safety.
“These are people who swore an oath to protect the American people. Maybe if they actually did, they wouldn’t have approval ratings in the basement.”
The Trump administration has pointed to two federal court rulings confirming Abrego Garcia’s gang affiliations and legal ineligibility to remain in the country, citing national security concerns. While the Supreme Court ruled the U.S. must facilitate his return if El Salvador willingly releases him, President Bukele has publicly refused to return the convicted criminal, declaring, “How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I won’t do it.”
Zero Tolerance on Illegal Alien Crime
Leavitt concluded with a promise that the Trump administration would not relent in its crackdown on illegal immigration:
“President Trump and our administration will not rest until every single violent illegal alien is removed from our country. The safety of the American people is too important to settle for anything less.”
As Democrats plan their delegation to El Salvador, the administration remains resolute in its commitment to prioritize the American citizen over foreign criminals—no matter the media backlash.