Did Karoline Leavitt Just Ignite a Conservative Civil War by Slamming Amy Coney Barrett’s ‘Betrayal’ on Live TV? The White House’s Fiery Swipe at a Trump-Appointed Justice Has MAGA Up in Arms—What’s Behind This Explosive Clash?

On April 10, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unleashed a blistering critique that’s rocked the conservative world, targeting Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett for what she implied was a stunning betrayal. During a briefing, Leavitt didn’t name Barrett outright but torched her for siding with liberal justices in a 5-4 ruling on Trump’s deportation flights to El Salvador. Calling it a “massive legal victory” for the administration, she seethed, “We wish this was nine to nothing,” hinting at Barrett’s dissent as a stab in the back. The fallout? A MAGA meltdown that’s splitting the right.

Barrett, a Trump appointee hailed for tipping Roe v. Wade, joined Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson to insist deportees—alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act—get judicial review. Conservatives expected lockstep loyalty; instead, her April 7 dissent fueled cries of “traitor” across X. Leavitt fanned the flames, branding the decision a “smackdown” of “rogue” Judge James Boasberg, who’d paused the flights, while subtly slamming Barrett’s break from the fold. “The president’s constitutional authority is clear,” she snapped, signaling Trump’s frustration with his own justice.

The backlash was instant. MAGA influencer DC_Draino raged, “Guess who joined the liberals to keep cartels here? Amy Coney Barrett.” Catturd, with 3.6 million followers, dubbed her a “disgusting fraud.” Leavitt’s veiled dig—“We called on the Supreme Court to rein in judicial activists”—lit the fuse, amplifying outrage over Barrett’s perceived drift. Yet, some conservatives defend her, arguing her procedural stance isn’t ideological treason. “She’s no liberal—she’s just meticulous,” one legal scholar countered. Still, the rift deepens as Trump loyalists demand absolute allegiance.

Leavitt, 27, framed the ruling as a win, insisting it lets Trump keep ousting “foreign terrorist invaders.” But the caveat—court hearings for detainees—grates on hardliners who see it as coddling criminals. Her swipe at Barrett, a darling of the right until now, risks fracturing Trump’s base just as his second term gains steam. Was this a calculated White House salvo to rally the faithful, or a misstep that’ll haunt them? Fans on X are split: “Karoline’s a rock star for calling it out!” versus “She’s picking a fight we don’t need.”

As Barrett’s conservative credentials—80% alignment with Justices Thomas and Alito last term—get questioned, this clash could redefine Trump’s judicial legacy. With deportation battles escalating, Leavitt’s words have turned a legal spat into a culture war inferno. Will MAGA forgive Barrett, or is this the start of a bigger reckoning?