In a fiery press briefing that has reverberated across Washington.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a scathing rebuke to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg.
Leavitt’s pointed remarks came after the judge ordered that flights carrying deported, suspected Venezuelan gang members be returned—an order that many in the Trump administration view as a direct challenge to executive authority.
This latest development has intensified calls from some Republicans to impeach Judge Boasberg for what they describe as “digressive micromanagement” that interferes with the President’s mandate to enforce immigration laws.
I. A Contentious Judicial Order
The controversy centers on deportation flights conducted under the authority of President Trump and the centuries‑old Alien Enemies Act.
Judge Boasberg issued a temporary order halting these flights, which were aimed at removing members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua from U.S. soil.
Leavitt condemned the decision, arguing that it undermines the President’s constitutional power and jeopardizes national security.
“The judge in this case is essentially trying to say the president doesn’t have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil.
That is an egregious abuse of the bench,” Leavitt told reporters. She contended that Boasberg’s actions represent nothing less than an activist attempt to interfere with the will of the American people—a move that, she warned, not only disrupts immigration enforcement but also poses a direct challenge to the executive branch.
Leavitt emphasized that the deportation flights were carried out in full compliance with the law. According to her, the flights were launched under clear legal authority, and by the time Judge Boasberg issued his order, the planes had already departed. “It is simply too late to turn the planes around,” she asserted, adding that the judge’s ruling only complicates an already complex situation.
II. Accusations of Activism and Political Bias
Karoline Leavitt’s comments did not stop at a mere defense of executive action. In her impassioned speech, she took aim at both Judge Boasberg and his political affiliations. Leavitt labeled Boasberg a “radical left lunatic” and an “activist judge” who, in her view, is out of step with the constitutional authority vested in the President.
This judge is a Democrat activist, appointed by Barack Obama, who has consistently shown disdain for this president and his policies,” Leavitt stated. She further noted that the judge’s wife, Elizabeth Manson, has donated over $10,000 to Democratic candidates—a detail she used to underscore what she described as Boasberg’s inherent political bias.
Leavitt argued that Boasberg’s ruling is part of a larger pattern of judicial overreach, one that has forced the Trump administration to fight what it sees as unwarranted intrusions into executive decisions. “The judge is trying to imply that the president lacks the authority to act—an assertion that is not only legally unfounded but also dangerously politicized,” she said. Her words resonated strongly with supporters of the administration, many of whom have long argued that activist judges are undermining the will of the electorate.
III. Impeachment Threats and the Call for Accountability
The fallout from Judge Boasberg’s decision has reached new heights. A House Republican lawmaker, Rep. Brandon Gill from Texas, has taken the extraordinary step of introducing articles of impeachment against Boasberg. Gill argued that the judge’s decision to halt the deportation flights is an unconstitutional usurpation of executive power, designed to impede the President from enforcing immigration laws as mandated by voters.
“For the past several weeks, we’ve seen several rogue activist judges trying to impede the president from exercising not only the mandate voters gave him but his constitutional authority to keep the American people safe,” Gill stated. His impeachment resolution accuses Boasberg of interfering with national security operations and disrupting the orderly function of the judiciary by focusing on minutiae rather than the overarching legal issues at stake.
President Trump has also weighed in on the matter. In a series of fiery posts on Truth Social, Trump denounced Boasberg, calling him a “Radical Left Lunatic” and an “agitator” whose actions have undermined the President’s authority. “I voted for President Trump, not activist judges! Congress must impeach those obstructing the agenda Americans overwhelmingly supported,” Trump tweeted, further fueling the impeachment push.
These developments have ignited a fierce debate over judicial independence versus executive authority. Critics warn that such impeachment efforts could set a dangerous precedent for challenging judges who rule against political interests. However, proponents argue that holding judges accountable for overstepping their bounds is essential to preserving the balance of power in government
IV. The Administration’s Defense of Executive Authority
In response to the judicial challenges, the Trump administration has remained resolute. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt repeatedly emphasized that the President’s authority to deport illegal aliens is clear and well-established. “Under the Alien Enemies Act, the president has the power to deport these foreign terrorists, and that is exactly what we’re doing,” Leavitt declared.
Leavitt also made it clear that the administration’s actions are being taken in strict adherence to the law. According to the White House, the flights in question were executed based on existing legal mandates, and the judge’s order came too late to alter the operation. “All of the planes subject to the order took off before it was entered into the record,” she said, defending the administration’s position and reinforcing the narrative that the judge’s ruling is both untimely and obstructive