The White House on Thursday issued fresh warnings to Iran, defended President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, and confirmed high-level talks on Venezuela and Greenland, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a tense and wide-ranging news briefing that included a heated exchange with a US journalist.
Leavitt said President Trump is closely monitoring developments in Iran and that efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions. She warned that if killings and massacres of protesters continue, Iran will face “grave consequences.”
She said Trump received credible information that executions would be halted and confirmed that 800 scheduled death sentences were stopped. Leavitt added that while the situation is being watched closely, “all options remain on the table.”
Insurrection Act threat
Asked about Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, Leavitt said it is a legal tool available to the president and has been used sparingly by past administrations. She stressed that only Trump could decide what conditions might trigger its use.
Also Read: Trump threatens to use military over Minnesota anti-ICE protests
Earlier, Trump threatened to deploy troops after sustained protests in Minnesota, sparked by immigration raids and the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. Tensions escalated further after another man was shot and wounded during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
White House blames Democrats
Leavitt accused Democratic leaders of holding state and local law enforcement “hostage” by discouraging cooperation with federal authorities. She said their actions reflected what she called a “deranged hatred” for President Trump.
She defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, saying they are carrying out their duties under dangerous conditions.
Clash with journalist over ICE killing
The briefing turned confrontational when Niall Stanage, a columnist for The Hill, questioned the administration’s claim that ICE agents were “doing everything correctly,” citing deaths in ICE custody and the killing of Renee Good.
Leavitt accused Stanage of being a “leftwing activist” rather than a journalist and said his question showed bias. She told him the media should focus more on Americans killed by undocumented immigrants and accused reporters of ignoring such cases.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed during a federal immigration raid in Minneapolis on January 7. Her death, captured on video, sparked nationwide protests and intense political debate.
The Trump administration has defended the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, claiming he acted in self-defense as Good tried to ram officers with her car. However, a video reconstruction by The New York Times suggests the vehicle did not strike the agent and that Good was attempting to flee. The FBI has begun investigating the incident.
Venezuela talks and Machado meeting
Leavitt confirmed that Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House and described the meeting as positive. She praised Machado as a “remarkable and brave voice” but said Trump’s skepticism about her ability to lead Venezuela has not changed.
Also Read: Trump accepts Nobel medal from Venezuelan leader Machado
She said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials are in constant contact with Venezuela’s interim authorities, including Delcy Rodríguez, whom she described as cooperative. Leavitt said political prisoners were released at Trump’s request and that the president is satisfied with the interim government’s cooperation.
Leavitt said talks with Denmark and Greenland will continue. She added that sending European troops to Greenland would not affect the United States.
Protests continue in Minneapolis
With thousands of federal agents still deployed, Minneapolis has seen renewed protests following the shooting of a man in the leg during an enforcement action. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged Trump to “turn the temperature down” and called on protesters to remain peaceful.
