‘Left-Wing Hack’: White House Press Secy Karoline Leavitt Tears Into Reporter Over ICE Shooting

Last Updated:January 16, 2026, 03:08 IST

The clash came after a reporter questioned the conduct of an ICE agent involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shows a copy of a post on X during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday sharply rebuked a reporter during a news briefing after he accused a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent involved in a fatal shooting of acting “recklessly" and “unjustifiably."

The exchange unfolded when the reporter questioned the conduct of the ICE agent who shot Renee Nicole Good during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this month. The reporter also cited figures claiming that 32 people had died in ICE custody last year and criticised remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had said the agency was “doing everything correctly."

When Leavitt asked the reporter to clarify whether he was offering his opinion, the reporter responded by alleging the agent had acted unjustifiably. Leavitt immediately pushed back, accusing him of bias and questioning his credibility as a journalist.

“You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter. You’re posing in this room as a journalist," Leavitt said, arguing that the premise of his question reflected political bias rather than fact-based reporting.

Leavitt went on to say the media should focus more on crimes committed by undocumented migrants, citing cases such as Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, and defending ICE officers as acting to protect public safety. She accused sections of the media of ignoring victims of violent crime while attacking federal law enforcement agencies.

During the briefing, Leavitt held up mugshots of individuals ICE said were recently arrested in Minnesota and accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of encouraging actions that obstruct federal law enforcement operations.

“This is all ICE is trying to do," Leavitt said, referring to the arrests. “They are trying to remove people like this from Governor Walz’s state."

Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent on January 7 during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis, an incident that has sparked protests and political debate. Authorities have said the agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, fired his weapon after Good allegedly attempted to ram officers with her SUV. Ross reportedly suffered internal bleeding after being struck by the vehicle.

News world ‘Left-Wing Hack’: White House Press Secy Karoline Leavitt Tears Into Reporter Over ICE Shooting

Read More