White House Sidesteps Whether Trump Backs Miller on “Domestic Terrorist” Label
The White House on Monday refused to say whether President Donald Trump supports senior adviser Stephen Miller’s description of Alex Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” leaving the controversial label unresolved amid a growing political dispute.
Leavitt faced direct questions from ABC News reporters asking if Trump agreed with Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s harsh characterizations of Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend. She declined to answer and emphasized Trump has not used that language.
The matter has escalated into a broader conflict over the administration’s handling of federal immigration enforcement and deadly shootings. Miller took to social platforms shortly after the incident to call Pretti an “assassin” and a “domestic terrorist” before investigations concluded. That rhetoric sparked sharp backlash from Democrats and some Republicans.
Leavitt stressed that Trump wants authorities to let the facts lead as multiple reviews of the shooting proceed, a stance that appears to distance the president from Miller’s early attack lines.
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“It remains under investigation and nobody here, including the president, wants to see Americans hurt or killed,” Leavitt told reporters.
Miller’s statements have become a flashpoint in the wider debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics and the messaging surrounding use of force, drawing bipartisan scrutiny. Footage released so far appears inconsistent with initial administration claims about Pretti’s conduct.
What happens next: The shooting and the administration’s response are prompting congressional inquiries, calls for accountability from both parties, and legal challenges to the immigration crackdown in court.
This story is evolving.
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