White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on January 26, 2026 delivered a forceful defense of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, framing a deadly weekend shooting as the consequence of Democratic resistance to federal law enforcement. Following a shooting that killed two people—including Renee Good (verified: shot January 7, 2026) and Alex Pretti (verified: shot January 24, 2026, both U.S. citizens)—Leavitt announced that President Trump spoke directly with Governor Tim Walz to demand state cooperation with ICE operations, threatening continued federal presence unless Minnesota implements three specific measures. The briefing also covered Trump’s approval of disaster declarations for twelve states affected by winter storms, ongoing peace negotiations for Ukraine, and the return of the final Israeli hostage remains from Gaza. Assistance from Claude AI.
Participants
Karoline Leavitt – White House Press Secretary
Jordan Conradson – Gateway Pundit
Gabe – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Jennifer – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Mary – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Danny – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Kelly – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Kari/Carrie – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Fran – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Elena – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Jake – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Jared – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Phil – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Alex – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Haley – Reporter (outlet unspecified)
Detailed Briefing Breakdown
Winter Storm Response and Federal Emergency Declarations
Leavitt opened the briefing by addressing the winter storm affecting much of the country. President Trump quickly approved 12 federal emergency disaster declarations within 24 hours for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These declarations enable affected states to access critical federal resources to supplement response efforts.
The declarations will help state-led efforts restore power, clear roads for emergency services, and keep communities safe. Leavitt emphasized that the White House will continue corresponding directly with governors and local officials in coming days, especially in states harshly impacted by the storm. Trump has remained in constant contact with FEMA and emergency responders throughout the crisis.
Minneapolis Shooting: Administration’s Position and Blame
Leavitt devoted the majority of her opening statement to addressing the “chaotic scenes in Minnesota over the weekend.” She stated that nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America’s streets—including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, brave federal law enforcement officers, and Americans victimized by illegal alien criminals.
The Saturday shooting remains under active investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, with Customs and Border Protection also conducting an internal review (verified: multiple sources confirm these investigations are ongoing). Leavitt said the administration is reviewing everything with respect to the shooting and will let the investigation play out.
However, she immediately pivoted to blame Democratic leadership: “Let’s be clear about the circumstances which led to that moment on Saturday. This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota.” She accused Governor Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers risking their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens from streets.
FACT-CHECK NOTE: This characterization of events is disputed. Video evidence verified by Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press contradicts key elements of the administration’s narrative about the Pretti shooting. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a Minnesota permit, had no criminal record, and his only known police interactions were for traffic tickets.
Leavitt claimed Walz and Frey have “shamefully blocked local and state police from cooperating with ICE, actively inhibiting efforts to arrest violent criminals.” She further accused them of using their platforms to “encourage left wing agitators to stalk, record, confront and obstruct federal officers who are just trying to lawfully perform their duties,” creating dangerous situations threatening both officers and the general public.
She characterized the Minneapolis incident as “precisely what unfolded” on Saturday morning, calling obstruction of federal law enforcement “wrong and illegal” and noting this “used to be a universally accepted position in the United States.”
Linking Minneapolis Situation to Border Policy and “Angel Families”
Leavitt contextualized the Minnesota situation within broader immigration policy, arguing that former President Joe Biden and Democrats “opened America’s borders for four years, inviting tens of millions of illegal aliens from all over the world to flood into our country, among them violent criminals who terrorized American communities.”
She claimed Democrats and liberal media showed no outrage over “horrifying crimes against US citizens,” with the pain of “American angel families” ignored and dismissed because it undermined the Democratic narrative. Leavitt cited specific victims: Jocelyn Nungaray, Laken Riley, and Rachel Morin, describing them as “just a few of the many victims savagely murdered by illegal alien criminals.”
CONTEXT NOTE: While these were real cases that received significant media attention, comprehensive criminological research shows that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens according to most studies. The administration’s selective highlighting of specific cases may create misleading impressions about overall crime patterns.
She also referenced a recent New Jersey incident where an illegal alien from Mexico with a long criminal history who entered under Biden’s administration allegedly threw a baseball-sized stone at a school bus, fracturing the skull of an eight-year-old child.
President Trump promised accountability to these families by securing the border and deporting every illegal alien who has committed crimes, especially violent crimes. Leavitt claimed “Nearly 80 million Americans voted for him to deliver on that very promise,” and “he is” fulfilling it as the duly elected president by arresting and removing threats from cities coast to coast.
FACT-CHECK: EXAGGERATED. Trump received approximately 77.3 million votes in the 2024 election (49.8% of votes cast), not “nearly 80 million.” This represents less than a majority of votes cast. Harris received 75.0 million votes (48.3%). While Trump did win both the Electoral College (312-226) and the popular vote, Leavitt’s rounding up by nearly 3 million votes significantly overstates his support level.
Yet she argued that Democratic leaders in Minnesota with sanctuary city policies have “actively defied federal immigration law and the will of the people,” and “as a result of that defiance two Minnesotans have now tragically lost their lives on the streets of Tim Walz’s state.”
Trump’s Three Demands to Governor Walz
Leavitt announced that President Trump spoke with Governor Walz directly that morning and “outlined a clear and simple path to restoring law and order in Minnesota” with three specific demands:
1. Turn over criminal illegal aliens: Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and all Democratic leaders should turn over all criminal illegal aliens currently incarcerated in their prisons and jails to federal authorities, along with any illegal aliens with active warrants or known criminal histories for immediate deportation.
2. Turn over arrested illegal aliens: State and local law enforcement must agree to turn over all illegal aliens who are arrested by local police.
3. Assist in apprehension: Local police must assist federal law enforcement in apprehending and detaining illegal aliens who are wanted for crimes, especially violent crimes.
Leavitt emphasized that if Walz and Frey implement these “common sense cooperative measures that have already been implemented in nearly every single other state across the country,” Customs and Border Patrol will not be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota. ICE and local law enforcement can peacefully work together as they are effectively doing in many other states and jurisdictions.
Call for Congressional Action on Sanctuary Cities
President Trump is calling on the United States Congress to “immediately pass legislation ending sanctuary cities once and for all,” Leavitt announced. She declared that “American cities should be safe sanctuaries for law abiding citizens only, not for dangerous illegal alien criminals who broke our nation’s laws and do not belong here.”
The administration hopes Governor Walz will “do the right thing and continue to work with President Trump to keep the American people safe” following their morning call. Leavitt stressed that Americans overwhelmingly want what Trump is delivering: strong borders and strict immigration enforcement against the worst illegal aliens, of which there are still hundreds of thousands to deport from the interior of the country.
She argued the most peaceful way to carry out this “vital public safety mission” is for Republicans and Democrats to do it together and for state and local law enforcement to work together with federal law enforcement. The administration wants to “let cops be cops.”
Polling and Public Support Claims
Leavitt claimed that despite “biased media coverage over the course of the last few days,” polling shows huge support for Trump’s position. She stated that more than 80 percent of Americans favor deporting illegal aliens convicted of violent crimes, arguing “a country unable to deport criminals who enter it illegally is no country at all.”
FACT-CHECK: ACCURATE BUT LACKS CRUCIAL CONTEXT. Multiple polls support this specific claim:
– AP-NORC (January 2025): 83% support deporting those convicted of violent crimes
– Harvard/Harris (October 2025): 78% support deporting criminal illegal aliens
– Pew Research (March 2025): 97% of those who favor some deportations support deporting those with violent crime convictions
However, important context was omitted: Support drops dramatically for broader deportation policies:
– Only 43% support deporting all undocumented immigrants (AP-NORC)
– 55% oppose deportations that separate families (AP-NORC)
– Support declines significantly when specific enforcement mechanisms are described
– By 63-27% margin, Americans prefer balanced approaches with pathways to legal status over mass deportation (Navigator polling, July 2025)
She noted the open borders agenda of Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and the Democrats was already on the ballot on November 5, 2024, and “it was resoundingly rejected.” President Trump “will never back down from his promise to deport violent criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again,” and he welcomes all cooperation in that effort.
Press Questions: Selective Outrage and Media Bias
Jordan Conradson from Gateway Pundit asked about “massive outrage from mainstream media and the left” over the Minneapolis shooting, questioning where that outrage was when Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, “was executed by Capitol Police Officer Michael Bird” at the US Capitol.
Leavitt agreed there has been “selective outrage by the liberal biased media in picking and choosing victims and highlighting their stories.” She reiterated that Trump does not want any Americans to lose their lives in American streets and communities, believing Saturday’s events were a tragedy. But she emphasized that “every life is equal to President Trump,” which is why the lives of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray continue to matter to him and remain priorities.
Leavitt said it’s unfortunate “we did not see the same type of sensationalist media coverage over the tragic deaths of those innocent American women and girls across the country as we are in the wake of this tragedy that took place on Saturday.”
Arizona Attorney General’s Controversial Statement
Conradson followed up about the Arizona attorney general who, days before the Minneapolis shooting, allegedly encouraged people to use lethal force against ICE agents. He quoted her saying citizens could defend themselves with lethal force if they reasonably believe their life is in danger, adding that “you can’t tell if ICE agents are law enforcement or imposters.”
Leavitt called such rhetoric “dangerous” and “exactly what has brought us to this position today, where you have elected Democrat officials across the country who are encouraging left wing agitators and crazy people to go out and unlawfully obstruct lawful immigration enforcement.”
She described federal enforcement officers as “just trying to do their jobs to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and to go after the worst of the worst in this country.” Leavitt urged people to watch video of an ICE agent in Minneapolis approached by left-wing agitators honking horns and screaming slurs, who rolled down his window and said he was trying to catch a child predator while they obstructed him.
She called rhetoric comparing ICE to “Nazi Gestapo” or “Donald Trump’s police force” as “despicable,” “shameful,” and “precisely what has led to the escalation of tensions in Minneapolis and in other places across the country.” When asked if the Department of Justice should investigate the Arizona attorney general for justifying violence, Leavitt deferred to DOJ.
Administration Officials’ Characterizations of Alex Pretti
Multiple reporters questioned why administration officials jumped to conclusions before investigations concluded. Gabe noted that on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security posted that Pretti appeared to want “maximum damage to massacre law enforcement,” while Stephen Miller called him “a would-be assassin.”
FACT-CHECK: PREMATURE AND CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Pretti had “brandished” a gun and “attacked” officers. However, multiple bystander videos verified by Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press show:
– Pretti was filming with his phone, not brandishing a weapon
– He was pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground by multiple agents
– An agent appears to remove Pretti’s gun approximately one second before another agent fires
– Pretti was surrounded by approximately six agents when shot
– No verified video shows Pretti brandishing his firearm
– The New York Times reported approximately ten shots were fired over five seconds
Leavitt acknowledged the situation has been “very fluid and fast moving” throughout the weekend, but stated that President Trump “has said that he wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead in this case.”
Mary pressed on whether the president agrees with Secretary Noem calling Pretti’s action “an act of domestic terrorism” and Miller labeling Pretti “a domestic terrorist.” Leavitt replied, “I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts in the investigation lead itself.”
Danny asked if Stephen Miller would apologize to Pretti’s family for calling him “an assassin who tried to murder federal agents, despite the fact that, as you say, this is still under investigation.” Leavitt reiterated that “this incident remains under investigation” and nobody at the White House wants to see Americans hurt or killed. As a mother herself, she said she cannot imagine the loss of life, especially losing one’s child, and that empathy extends to parents of angel families and victims of illegal alien crime across the country.
CONTEXT: Multiple Republican lawmakers have since called for independent investigations, expressing concern about the administration jumping to conclusions before evidence was gathered.
Investigation Details and Body Camera Footage
Jennifer asked if the president and Leavitt have been briefed on specific details: how many shots were fired, how many guns discharged, whether the protester’s gun went off or only officers’ guns. Leavitt said the investigation is continuing and “we will let the facts lead and we will let the facts play out.” She noted that HSI and FBI are conducting interviews with those involved, including the agents.
When asked if the president wants body camera footage released to the public, Leavitt said that’s “not something I’ve heard the president commit to, so I won’t do that from the podium.”
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT: DHS subsequently confirmed that body camera footage from multiple Border Patrol agents exists and is being reviewed by investigators. The agents involved were part of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, a specialized force with more body-worn cameras.
Kelly asked if the president believes the killing was a mistake. Leavitt again deferred: “The president has said we have to review it and this investigation needs to continue, and he’s letting the facts on the investigation lead itself.”
Allegations of Coordination Between Officials and Demonstrators
Kari/Carrie asked how seriously the administration is taking allegations that local and state officials in Minnesota are actively coordinating with demonstrators through encrypted or non-encrypted communications and providing government resources to impede immigration enforcement operations.
Leavitt confirmed they’ve “definitely seen active organization amongst these left-wing groups” and “it is something that I know the FBI and the Department of Justice are looking into.” She reiterated it is illegal to unlawfully obstruct lawful immigration enforcement, and “these agitators are making it nearly impossible for ICE to do their jobs.”
She asked reporters to imagine coming to the White House daily with left-wing agitators or agitators of any kind “in your face,” doxing, harassing, physically threatening, and even “biting off your fingers in the case of two Border Patrol agents we saw this past weekend in Minneapolis.” That would make it difficult to show up and do your job, she argued—”that’s what these officers in Minneapolis are facing.”
Tom Homan’s Deployment to Minnesota
Multiple reporters asked about Border Czar Tom Homan’s deployment to Minnesota. When asked if this signals the president is dissatisfied with how officials on the ground handled the incident or if Secretary Noem made a mistake, Leavitt said “no” emphatically.
She explained that Homan has been working alongside Secretary Noem and for the president over the past year, and “he’s uniquely positioned to drop everything and go to Minnesota to continue having these productive conversations with state and local officials.” Homan is “doing an exceptional job,” and Secretary Noem still has “the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States.”
Leavitt noted that Noem is also in charge of FEMA in the wake of the brutal winter storm where hundreds of thousands of Americans have been impacted. “So, Secretary—border czar Homan is in a unique position to drop everything and go to Minnesota.”
She emphasized Homan’s qualifications by citing a 2016 Washington Post headline: “Meet the Man the White House has Honored for Deporting Illegal Immigrants,” noting that former President Barack Hussein Obama awarded a medal to Homan. “So, he’s obviously very qualified, he has the full trust and faith of the president.”
FACT-CHECK: ACCURATE. Tom Homan received a 2015 Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Service from the Obama administration while serving as ICE Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations. This is the nation’s highest civil service award, bestowed for “sustained extraordinary results.” The official ICE press release from 2015 praised Homan for expanding family detention capacity and achieving record deportation statistics under Obama’s administration.
Homan will be “the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis” while Gregory Bovino continues to lead Customs and Border Patrol throughout and across the country. When asked if the Saturday killing expedited the withdrawal of immigration enforcement officers, Leavitt reiterated that if Walz and Frey implement the commonsense cooperative measures, “CBP will no longer be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota.”
Walz’s Request and Cooperation Examples
Jake asked if Governor Walz asked the president to remove immigration enforcement officers. Leavitt said Walz “asked the president to scale down,” and Trump reiterated the three-point plan he’d already outlined.
She provided statistics supporting cooperation: Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE, and there’s been a historic turnaround in safety in cities that have chosen to cooperate—cities led not just by Republicans.
Leavitt highlighted Washington DC as an example, praising cooperation with Mayor Bowser and the local government that enabled removal of thousands of illegal aliens from the District. “The murder rate in Washington DC has plummeted as a result. There were no riots, there were no protests. Nobody was tragically killed as a result of that level of cooperation between federal and local authorities.”
CONTEXT NOTE: This claim about DC’s murder rate “plummeting” specifically due to immigration enforcement cooperation was not independently verified in available sources and may conflate multiple factors affecting crime rates.
Minnesota Fraud Allegations and Ilhan Omar
Alex asked about Trump’s weekend social media posts referring to a “cover up” and calling “Minnesota a cover up.” Leavitt explained she spoke with the president about this at length. Trump is referring to the fact that Walz and the mayor “have been encouraging these left-wing agitators to come out and to harass and to dox and to threaten ICE, and to make this conversation about—and smear lies about federal law enforcement” in an attempt to “distract from the widespread massive fraud that has taken place in their state.”
She claimed “billions and billions of dollars have been stolen from law abiding taxpayers in Minnesota,” and the administration continues to focus on getting to the bottom of it. Leavitt specifically raised questions about Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who “now has a net worth within the millions.”
“And one must ask themselves why and how is that possible? Is she connected to the fraud rings that we have seen taking place within her state and her own district? It’s a question the American people are raising, and the president believes it’s one worth answering.”
FACT-CHECK: NO EVIDENCE PROVIDED. Leavitt offered no evidence for these allegations about Rep. Omar, stating only that “it’s a question the American people are raising.” This appears to be speculation without substantiation.
Recent ICE Arrests in Minnesota
Phil asked whether Homan’s mission in Minneapolis would continue focusing on illegal immigrants with criminal history or on illegal immigration generally. Leavitt said Homan will continue to enforce immigration laws, “especially deporting the worst of the worst criminals in Minnesota who have committed violent offenses.”
She held up a packet detailing recent ICE arrests in Minnesota of multiple violent criminal illegal aliens with convictions for assault, driving under the influence, fraud, larceny, vehicle theft, drug possession, domestic assault, identity theft, and inflicting bodily harm. “These are extremely dangerous people who Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have allowed to roam on their streets,” she said, arguing all the president asks is cooperation to arrest and deport such individuals.
Second Amendment Rights and Protests
Phil asked about FBI Director Kash Patel’s Sunday interview statement: “you cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest.” Does the president believe Second Amendment rights remain in effect even when protesting?
Leavitt affirmed that “the president supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens, absolutely. There has been no greater supporter or defender of the right to bear arms than President Donald J. Trump.”
However, she added that “Americans do not have a constitutional right to impede lawful immigration enforcement operations.” Any gun owner knows that “when you are carrying a weapon, when you are bearing arms and you are confronted by law enforcement, you are raising the assumption of risk and the risk of force being used against you. And again, that’s unfortunately what took place on Saturday.”
First Amendment Rights vs. Obstruction
Fran asked if it’s the White House’s position that Americans have the right to show up to ICE operations and film, document, or protest law enforcement actions. Leavitt said “all Americans have a First Amendment constitutional right, of course, but Americans do not have a constitutional right to impede and obstruct lawful immigration enforcement operations.”
She called obstruction “actually a crime” and “something that we’ve seen taking place in the streets of Minneapolis, which again is leading to these dangerous circumstances that these federal law enforcement officers have been forced to work within.”
Body Camera Policy for ICE Agents
Elena asked why not require ICE agents to wear body cameras to clear up disputes between witness accounts, video footage, and what the administration has been saying. Leavitt responded that “that’s a policy question that I know the policy folks in the building are having with members on Capitol Hill, and I’ll leave it to them and the president to make that decision.”
Federal Investigations
Leavitt repeatedly emphasized that there are investigations into Saturday’s events: Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI have teamed up for an investigation, and there’s also an internal CBP investigation and internal review of what’s happening on the ground in Minnesota. “The president supports those investigations and, as I’ve said repeatedly, he wants to see them move forward.”
Haley asked if the president is concerned that definitive statements from officials like Stephen Miller and Secretary Noem risk public perception of the credibility of those investigations. Leavitt replied, “The president believes that these investigations are credible, they are continuing, they are active and he wants to let them play out.”
Government Funding and DHS Appropriations
Alex asked if the administration is willing to separate DHS funding from other funding bills to avoid a broader shutdown. Leavitt said “the White House supports the bipartisan work that was done to advance the bipartisan appropriations package, and we want to see that passed.”
She noted policy discussions on immigration in Minnesota are happening, with the president leading those discussions as evidenced by his correspondence with Governor Walz. “But that should not be at the expense of government funding for the American people,” which would include FEMA funding during the aftermath of the weekend storm when many Americans are still being impacted.
“So, we absolutely do not want to see that funding lapse. And we want the Senate to move forward with passing the bipartisan appropriations package that was negotiated on a bipartisan basis.”
Iowa Trip Preview
When asked about the president’s trip to Iowa, Leavitt confirmed that tomorrow President Trump will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, where he will visit a local business and give a speech on affordability and the economy. He looks forward to meeting with the great people of Iowa and lawmakers as well.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
Alex asked about another round of Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for Sunday and how the president will be involved. Leavitt said she’s “not tracking any scheduled calls at this point in time,” but the president remains deeply involved and is being apprised by his advisors, namely Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Witkoff.
She noted they had a “multilateral meeting this past weekend which didn’t get a ton of coverage, but that was historic in nature where the president’s team has really brought two sides of this war to the table together to move the ball closer towards peace.” The president is not giving up on the peace process and just met with President Zelenskyy in Davos, Switzerland, though no calls are scheduled for this week.
Gaza Hostages and Middle East Peace
Leavitt announced that “the last remaining body of the hostages in—Israeli hostages in Gaza has been returned. This is a huge foreign policy feat for the president of the United States, for the State of Israel and frankly for the whole world. The president made the impossible possible.”
She called it “great news for the president, for the United States, for our allies and also for peace in the Middle East.” More than 20 new additional countries have signed up to join the newly established Board of Peace with respect to the rebuilding of Gaza, “which is another historic accomplishment for this president.”
Summary Assessment
This briefing mixed verified factual claims with exaggerated statistics, disputed characterizations contradicted by video evidence, and unsubstantiated allegations. Key findings:
Accurate: Two U.S. citizens (Renee Good and Alex Pretti) were killed in separate Minneapolis incidents; Tom Homan did receive a Presidential Rank Award from Obama; federal investigations are ongoing; Pretti had no criminal record.
Exaggerated: Trump received 77.3 million votes, not “nearly 80 million” as claimed—an overstatement of approximately 3 million votes.
Contradicted by Evidence: The administration’s characterization of Pretti “brandishing” a weapon and “attacking” officers is directly contradicted by multiple videos verified by major news organizations. Video shows Pretti filming with his phone when pepper-sprayed, and an agent removing Pretti’s gun before shots were fired.
Misleading Context: While 80%+ support for deporting violent criminal aliens is accurate, Leavitt omitted that support drops to 43% for general deportations and that 55% oppose family separations—crucial context when justifying broad enforcement operations.
Unsubstantiated: Allegations about Rep. Ilhan Omar’s connection to “fraud rings” were presented as “questions” without any supporting evidence.
The administration’s immediate labeling of Pretti as a would-be assassin and domestic terrorist before investigations concluded has drawn criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers calling for independent investigations. The contradiction between official statements and subsequently released video evidence represents a significant credibility challenge for the administration’s narrative about events in Minneapolis.
Citation
“Press Briefing: Karoline Leavitt Holds a Press Briefing at The White House – January 26, 2026.” Factbase, 26 Jan. 2026, factba.se. Transcript.
Note: This comprehensive briefing analysis preserves the administration’s framing while documenting all substantive claims, policy positions, and press exchanges for the public record. Fact-checks are integrated throughout based on verification against authoritative sources including government data, academic polling organizations, and multiple independent news organizations.