Karoline Leavitt just threw Stephen Miller under the bus for calling Alex Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist’ — and she didn’t even flinch
She can do anything for grampy.
At a White House press briefing on Jan. 26, 2026, reporters asked Karoline Leavitt about comments from her own administration about Alex Pretti. Apparently, the Minnesota ICE victim is considered a “domestic terrorist” by Leavitt’s peers. But her response? It’s on them.
During the briefing, one reporter cited that the DHS Secretary Kristi Noem called Pretti’s alleged actions “domestic terrorism.” In the same spirit, Stephen Miller had also Labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist.” But Leavitt’s answer was basically: I haven’t heard Trump say that, so, let the investigation play out.
That’s the sleight of hand. She didn’t directly dispute that Miller used the label. She just quarantined it, first by narrowing responsibility to “the President,” and then by hiding behind “the facts” while the administration’s own senior figures were already marketing a conclusion.
In the days leading up to that briefing, the administration’s public messaging had already escalated. So, when Leavitt says she hasn’t heard Trump use that characterization, she isn’t correcting the record. She’s doing damage control. Leavitt is keeping Trump’s fingerprints off the most radioactive phrasing while leaving Miller and Noem to absorb the blowback.
What “domestic terrorism” actually means in U.S. law
“Domestic terrorism” in the U.S. is a definition, not automatically a criminal charge (via FBI). Under 18 U.S.C. § 2331(5), domestic terrorism refers to activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that violate criminal law. It also includes acts intended to intimidate or coerce civilians or influence government policy/conduct through intimidation, coercion, mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.
The FBI/DHS document spells out that this is a “definitional statute, not a charging statute.” In other words, officials can slap the label on a situation rhetorically. Yes, even when prosecutors still have to charge specific crimes under other laws. But calling someone a “domestic terrorist” isn’t just a spicy adjective. It’s a political weapon that can shape public perception, harden institutional responses, and justify aggressive enforcement postures.
Because the term is so stigmatizing, officials can get the upside of using it without the legal downside of having to prove the terrorism elements.So, Leavitt didn’t say, “Miller was wrong.” She said: Trump didn’t say it.
Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse, not a domestic terrorist
Based on public information, no on can confirm whether Pretti was legally a domestic terrorist or not. And that’s exactly why Leavitt pivoted to “let the facts lead the investigation.” Pretti was a registered ICU nurse and by all accounts thus far, a good, helpful human being. Even when he was brutally shot, bystander videos suggest that he was trying to help a woman being tackled by ICE.
Despite everything going against Noem and Miller’s “domestic terrorist” rhetoric, Leavitt’s answer was a classic comms maneuver. She separated Trump from the mess without actually contradicting the mess. She did not defend Miller, but simply established a new headline: Trump hasn’t said that. So, if later reporting or evidence makes the “domestic terrorist” branding look reckless, the fall guy is already pre-selected.
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