Karoline Leavitt Appears Defensive When Pressed On Trump’s Repeated Claim That Remains Unsupported By Any Factual Evidence Or Credible Reporting

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt engaged in a sharp exchange with CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins while attempting to defend President Donald Trump’s proposal to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. Trump has persistently claimed that Portland is plagued by violence and asserts his authority to send federalized troops from California, despite an Oregon judge opposing this action. In response to Collins' query about which local officials considered the National Guard necessary, Leavitt dodged directly answering, instead reiterating Trump’s narrative. She stated that the President, as commander-in-chief under U.S. Code 12406, possesses the right to invoke the National Guard when he finds it necessary.Disputing this, Collins highlighted that the Portland police chief contradicted Trump’s assertions. Leavitt continued to assert her claims, citing a ruling from a Los Angeles judge supporting Trump’s troop deployment plans and criticized the media's portrayal of ongoing protests, stating that independent journalists had witnessed chaos. Local accounts suggest the reality differs significantly from the administration's depiction, focusing on peaceful protests against ICE actions.