Karoline Leavitt Says Dems ‘Fell Right Into’ Donald Trump’s SOTU ‘Trap’ Over Crime Victim Tributes [WATCH]

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Democrats “fell right into” a political “trap” set by President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address this week, arguing their reaction to several crime victim tributes revealed their priorities on immigration and public safety, as reported by Fox News.

Leavitt made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on “Hannity,” one day after President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress and recognized multiple victims impacted by illegal immigrant crime and violent offenders.

“They fell right into it because they cannot help themselves,” Leavitt said.

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“They truly stand on the side of the tens of millions of illegal aliens who they allowed to pour into our nation’s open borders under the Biden administration. They truly stand on the side of career criminals who have gone to jail not once, not twice, not three times, but 12 times in the case of [Iryna Zarutska] … whose neck was slit by a career criminal who was released back onto the streets of North Carolina by Democrat policies.”

During the address, President Trump recognized Anna Zarutska, the mother of Charlotte rail-stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska.

He also acknowledged 7-year-old Dalilah Coleman, who suffered critical injuries in an automobile collision involving an illegal immigrant driving an 18-wheel tractor-trailer.

“They could not even stand for her heartbroken mother, who President Trump was commending last night,” Leavitt continued.

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“They couldn’t even stand for a young girl [Dalilah Coleman] who is now suffering a brain problem for the rest of her life because of an illegal alien truck driver who smashed into her family’s vehicle.”

Leavitt’s comments followed the reaction in the House chamber Tuesday evening, where Democratic lawmakers largely remained seated as the president highlighted victims of illegal immigrant crime, political violence, and what he described as soft-on-crime policies.

In addition to recognizing the Zarutska and Coleman families, President Trump also acknowledged Erika Kirk, the widow of his late friend and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Leavitt criticized Democrats’ response as “despicable,” while describing the president’s decision to include the recognitions as intentional.

“It was his idea to put that into the speech, and it proved to be right, because he wanted the American people to know that this is a choice between common sense and President Trump, and Republicans and crazy radical Democrats who stand for nothing except for being against Donald Trump,” she said.

Leavitt said the moment was designed to present a clear contrast over immigration enforcement and public safety, framing it as a decision between protecting American citizens and defending policies enacted under former President Joe Biden’s administration.

The State of the Union address marked one of President Trump’s most prominent opportunities this year to outline his administration’s priorities before a national audience, with immigration and crime among the central themes of the speech.

Leavitt argued that the reaction inside the chamber reinforced the message the president sought to deliver, saying the response demonstrated where lawmakers stand on issues tied to border security and repeat offenders.

The exchange has since fueled debate over the conduct of members of Congress during presidential addresses and the broader national discussion surrounding immigration policy and criminal justice enforcement.

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