Karoline Leavitt Falsely Says 'Constitutional Crisis' Is Coming From Judges

The White House press secretary told a bald-faced lie about the separation of powers.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stood behind her briefing podium Wednesday and falsely told reporters that it is the federal judiciary — not President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk — who are precipitating a constitutional crisis in the United States.

Her statement belies a fundamental misunderstanding of the separation of powers enumerated in the U.S. Constitution since 1789.

The federal judiciary was conceived alongside the executive and legislative branches of government to provide checks and balances on one another, meaning that the judiciary can use its powers against what it perceives as overreach from the executive branch, which has the right to appeal.

“Many outlets in this room have been fear-mongering the American people into believing there is a ‘constitutional crisis’ taking place here at the White House,” Leavitt told reporters before taking their questions.

“I’ve been hearing those words a lot lately,” she said. “But, in fact, the real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch, where district court judges in liberal courts across the country are abusing their power to unilaterally block President Trump’s basic executive authority.”