Leavitt: Abrego Garcia 'Was a Foreign Terrorist'; on Biden's Speech: 'I'm Shocked That He Is Speaking at Night Time' (April 15, 2025)

The White House answered the uproar over a deported MS-13 gang member. “Abrego Garcia was a foreign terrorist. He is an MS-13 gang member. He was engaged in human trafficking. He illegally came into our country. And so, deporting him back to El Salvador was always going to be the end result,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the briefing on April 15, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“There is never going to be a world in which this is an individual who is going to live a peaceful life in Maryland because he is a foreign terrorist and MS-13 gang member,” she said [1].

The video above shows the April 15, 2025, briefing. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project, the Federal Register and FOX 17 News in Nashville [1][2][3].

”A Candidate for Father of the Year”

In her opening remarks, Leavitt turned the story around. “Based on the sensationalism of many of the people in this room, you would think we deported a candidate for father of the year,” she said [1].

“That’s because, unfortunately, many in this country care more about this, quote, unquote, Maryland father, illegal alien MS-13 gang member than a Maryland mother and an American citizen who was brutally murdered at the hands of a different illegal alien. Of course, I am referring to Rachel Moran,” Leavitt said [1].

“And if you didn’t see yesterday, a Maryland jury found illegal alien Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez guilty of murdering Rachel Moran in August of 2023. She was a 37-year-old mother of five who was jogging in an otherwise safe community Northeast of Baltimore,” she said [1].

A reporter from Maryland asked about Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s plan to go to El Salvador. “It’s mind-boggling the priorities of the modern-day Democrat party,” Leavitt answered [1].

”Bukele Said That He Is Not Going to Smuggle a Foreign Terrorist”

Another reporter asked who was now responsible for the man. “Well, no, first of all, President Bukele said that he is not going to smuggle a foreign terrorist back into the United States of America as many in this room and the Democrat Party seemingly want him to do,” Leavitt said [1].

”A More Than $50 Billion Endowment”

A reporter Leavitt called Matt, in the new media seat, asked about Harvard. “We saw the Trump administration today announced it’s freezing $2 billion in funds to Harvard because the campus has serious problems with violence and with anti-Semitism,” the reporter said [1].

“So, the President made it clear to Harvard, follow federal law, no longer break title six, which was passed by Congress to ensure no student can be discriminated against on the basis of race, and you will receive federal funding,” Leavitt said [1].

“I think the President is also begging a good question, more than $2 billion out the door to Harvard when they have a more than $50 billion endowment, why are the American taxpayers subsidizing a university that has billions of dollars in the bank already?” she said [1].

”Speaking at Night Time”

A reporter said former President Joe Biden would give his first major speech since leaving office that night, on Social Security. “My first reaction when seeing former President Biden was speaking tonight was, I’m shocked that he is speaking at night time,” Leavitt said [1].

“Let me make it very clear ahead of former President Biden’s remarks, the President, this president, President Trump is absolutely certain about protecting Social Security benefits for law-abiding, taxpaying American citizens and seniors who have paid into this program,” she said [1].

”This Is the Trump Effect”

Leavitt also pointed to new investment. “For the first time ever, chipmaking giant NVIDIA will produce AI supercomputers entirely in the United States as part of its pledge to produce $50 billion worth of AI infrastructure in our country over the next four years,” she said. “This is the Trump effect.” [1]

“According to CBP, Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border for the entire month of March 2025 were lower than the first two days of March 2024, under Joe Biden,” Leavitt said [1].

She described the military zone Trump ordered along the border. “This new national defense area spans more than 170 miles across our border in New Mexico. But in the coming weeks, this administration will add more than 90 miles in the state of Texas,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

$2 billion: in Harvard funding frozen, per the question [1].
$50 billion+: Harvard’s endowment, per Leavitt [1].
170+ miles: of the new national defense area on the border in New Mexico, per Leavitt [1].
At least 50: U.S. attorney offices for the Social Security fraud program, per Leavitt [1].

What Happened Next

Trump signed the Social Security order. That afternoon he signed a memorandum, “Preventing Illegal Aliens From Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits.” It says federal law and sound administration “demand that taxpayer-funded benefits be provided only to eligible persons and not encourage or reward illegal immigration to the United States.” [2]

Abrego Garcia came back to face charges. In June 2025, he was flown back from El Salvador. “He is under federal indictment, accused of smuggling thousands of undocumented migrants into the U.S., and other serious charges,” FOX 17 News reported [3].

For Bukele in the Oval Office the day before, see HYGO News’ page on April 14, 2025. For Trump on Social Security’s 90th anniversary that August, see the page on Aug. 14, 2025.