Karoline Leavitt says Trump ‘set a trap’ for Democrats during immigration remarks at SOTU

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spilled the beans on how President Donald Trump masterminded an ambush for Democrats who remained seated during his State of the Union address. 

In an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity," Leavitt revealed that Trump deliberately baited left-wing lawmakers and forced them to choose between applauding for American victims of illegal immigrant crimes or staying glued to their chairs.

Trump used the Tuesday address to hammer home his tough-on-immigration policies. The speech ran for a record-breaking 107 minutes.

Trump’s political setup exposed Democrats

Leavitt described the President's strategy as a "brilliant idea" that was all his own.

"President Trump set the Democrats up in a trap, and they fell right into it because they cannot help themselves," she declared. "They truly stand on the side of the tens of millions of illegal aliens whom they allowed to pour into our nation’s open borders under the Biden administration." 

Karoline Leavitt says President Trump exposed Democrats in real time, arguing their refusal to stand for victims showed a clear choice between common sense leadership and radical opposition.

During the address, Trump revisited heart-wrenching stories, including a young woman in North Carolina whose neck was slit by a career criminal released under Democrat policies. 

Iryna Zarutska was a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who fled war in her homeland only to be brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train last August. Decarlos Brown Jr (a repeat offender with over a dozen prior arrests) allegedly pulled a pocketknife and slashed her neck and body shortly after she boarded. Her heartbroken mother, Anna Zarutska, was honored by Trump during his SOTU address.

"They could not even stand for her heartbroken mother who President Trump was commending last night," Leavitt fumed. 

Another story involved a young girl, Dalilah Coleman, who is now facing lifelong brain issues after an illegal immigrant truck driver smashed into her family's vehicle. She was also present in the House chamber, but Democrats remained seated and refused to applaud as Trump spoke about her plight.

"They couldn't even stand for a young girl who is now suffering brain problems for the rest of her life," Leavitt noted.

"It was so despicable to be in that chamber and to watch as these Democrats really did show their true colors. But to your point, the president—it was a brilliant idea. 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 being against Donald Trump," she added.

Democrats face criticism from officials

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr also ripped Democrats for refusing to stand as Trump rattled off his domestic agenda, especially his administration’s push to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

“So far, we haven’t gotten much cooperation from the Democrats,” Kennedy told News Nation following Trump’s speech.

On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended Democrats for refusing to stand when Trump called on both parties to rise if they believed the first duty of the government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.

“We agree we need to protect Americans,” Schumer told CNN. “He’s not. By his reckless ICE agency in Minnesota, two Americans were killed. Americans are being pulled out of their cars and beaten. Americans’ houses, the doors are being knocked down, you know, without a warrant.”

The episode highlighted Trump’s messaging strategy and the political tension around immigration and public safety policies, reinforcing the stakes for both parties.