White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a sharp rebuke to a reporter during a June 11, 2025 press briefing, calling her question about peaceful protests “What a stupid question” after being asked to clarify President Donald Trump’s stance on demonstrations planned for his upcoming military parade.
The heated exchange occurred when NOTUS White House correspondent Jasmine Wright questioned Leavitt about Trump’s previous comments regarding protesters at Saturday’s military parade in Washington, D.C. The event, scheduled to commemorate the Army’s 250th anniversary, coincides with the president’s 79th birthday and carries a $45 million price tag.
Wright initially asked Leavitt to clarify what kind of protest President Trump considers supportive or acceptable. Leavitt responded that the president absolutely supports peaceful protests and the First Amendment, emphasizing his support for Americans’ right to make their voices heard. She noted that Trump does not support violence of any kind or assaulting law enforcement officers attempting to perform their duties.
When Wright followed up by asking specifically whether peaceful protests would be allowed during Saturday’s military parade, Leavitt’s response was dismissive. She told Wright that of course the president supports peaceful protests before adding her sharp criticism of the question’s merit.
The confrontational moment left Wright visibly shocked and disheartened, according to witnesses present during the 26-minute briefing. Leavitt appeared to grin after making her remark before quickly moving to the next reporter’s question. The exchange was captured on video and subsequently shared across social media platforms.
The questioning stemmed from Trump’s earlier warnings about potential demonstrations during the weekend festivities. On Tuesday, the president issued stern language from the Oval Office regarding anyone planning to protest the military display. He indicated that protesters would be met with very big force and characterized potential demonstrators as people who hate the country, suggesting some might even be paid insurrectionists.
The military parade is expected to feature thousands of soldiers and displays of military hardware along Constitution Avenue, with a concert planned at the Ellipse. Security preparations have already begun, with fencing installed around the White House, Capitol, and certain roadways in anticipation of the event.
Organizers with the “No Kings” movement have announced plans for demonstrations across the country to coincide with Saturday’s military parade and concert. However, these organizers have advised potential demonstrators to avoid protesting in Washington, D.C., given the robust security response already in place. Instead, they have encouraged people to demonstrate in Philadelphia or suburban Maryland and Virginia locations.
During the same briefing, Leavitt addressed ongoing protests in Los Angeles and other major cities including New York and Chicago, all related to Trump’s mass deportation plan. She displayed photographs of burning cars while justifying Trump’s decision to federalize California’s National Guard members and deploy U.S. Marines to address the unrest.
Leavitt reported that nearly 400 individuals had been arrested in connection with the riots since June 6, with hundreds accused of assaulting law enforcement officers. She specifically highlighted the case of an individual from Mexico who was arrested for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at law enforcement officers during riots in Paramount on Saturday, noting that person now faces attempted murder charges.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to federalize the National Guard without the governor’s consent. When asked whether other Democratic governors would be consulted before similar National Guard deployments, Leavitt indicated that Trump had been in contact with Newsom despite claims made by the governor.
The confrontational exchange with Wright represents part of a pattern of tense interactions between Leavitt and members of the press corps. During Tuesday’s briefing, she was also questioned about whether the president views himself as a king, to which she responded that Trump sees himself as the president of the United States in a constitutional republic.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew on downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of Wednesday morning following the arrest of 200 protesters throughout the night. The curfew, effective from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., applies to approximately one square mile enclosed by the 5, 10, and 110 freeways. Bass expects the curfew to remain in effect for several days, though it exempts residents, homeless individuals, media members, and public safety personnel.
Sources:
https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/what-a-stupid-question-leavitt-snaps-at-reporter-for-questioning-trumps-stance-on-peaceful-protests/videoshow/121787614.cms
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/karoline-leavitt-reporter-peaceful-protests-military-parade_n_6849d690e4b0f2259d609b45
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/leavitt-snaps-calls-reporter-stupid-1202686
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14803181/karoline-leavitt-shoots-protest-question-military-parade.html
https://newrepublic.com/article/196718/trump-press-sec-seethes-journos-harsh-new-poll-shows-tanking
