The White House slammed a question on Wednesday about whether President Donald Trump backs free speech and the First Amendment.
“Of course, the president supports peaceful protests,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the afternoon news briefing. “What a stupid question.”
.@PressSec nukes the Fake News: “Of course the President supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/dOB8wtSV55
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 11, 2025
Still, Leavitt fielded several reporters’ questions about the Los Angeles riots.
Trump raised eyebrows the day before by saying anyone who protests his planned military parade on Saturday in Washington, D.C., would be “met with very big force,” making no distinction between peaceful and violent protests.
“They will be met with very heavy force,” Trump added.
Leavitt tried to clear things up on Wednesday, saying Trump “absolutely” supports peaceful protests and the First Amendment but does not support violence of any kind.
Later on, another reporter brought up the topic again, asking why Trump has not emphasized the First Amendment rights of peaceful protesters and inquiring whether free speech or stopping violence was most important to him.
Leavitt chose both.
TRUMP FLOATS USING INSURRECTION ACT TO QUELL VIOLENCE AT LOS ANGELES PROTESTS
“Two things can be important at the same time,” she said. “The president, as I just answered, supports the right of Americans to peacefully protest. He supports the First Amendment. But that is not the majority of the behavior that we have seen taking place in Los Angeles.”
Nationwide “No Kings” protests are scheduled for Saturday, the same day as the Trump-ordered military parade in D.C. and the president’s 79th birthday.
