Noem’s attempt to smear the victim was wholly detached from reality; but just as notably, Blanche’s on-air comments suggested the Justice Department wanted nothing to do with the DHS secretary’s ugly nonsense.

A few hours later, at White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s briefing, conditions deteriorated further for Noem and another key member of Team Trump who read from a similar script.

Q: "Secretary Noem said 'Alex Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism.' Stephen Miller labeled Pretti 'a domestic terrorist.' Does the president agree with them?"

Leavitt: "I have not heard the President characterize Mr. Pretti in that way."

— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2026-01-26T18:40:51.474Z

....As a factual matter, that the president adopted an above-the-fray posture is plainly at odds with what actually happened, but Leavitt’s comment nevertheless suggested that the White House has decided to hang Noem and Miller out to dry, rather than try to defend their indefensible rhetoric.

During the same press briefing, a reporter also asked whether Miller intends to apologize to Pretti’s family after having publicly called the victim an “assassin.” Leavitt didn’t answer the question.

As striking as it was to see the White House put some distance between the president and prominent members of his own operation — an unusual step that reflects the increasingly chaotic conditions within the administration — let’s not forget that after Miller falsely claimed via social media that Pretti was “an assassin who tried to murder federal agents,” none other than JD Vance decided to amplify the message, as if the smear had merit.

Perhaps the White House could offer some clarity about whether the vice president might apologize to the victim’s family, too?