White House Defends FBI's Fulton County Election Probe After Years of Russia Claims

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticizes media for questioning the operation after years of promoting Russia interference narratives.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the FBI's seizure of ballots and documents related to the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, criticizing media outlets for questioning the operation after years of promoting claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Leavitt argued that as the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard's presence in Fulton County was part of her role in ensuring American elections are free of foreign intervention, and that the president fully supports these efforts.

Why it matters

The FBI's actions in Fulton County have sparked outrage and questions from Democrats and the media, who view it as an unusual and politicized show of force. Leavitt's comments highlight the ongoing political tensions around election integrity and the contrasting narratives between the Trump administration's focus on potential 2020 election issues and the media's past emphasis on Russian interference in 2016.

The details

The FBI executed a search warrant in Fulton County, Georgia in January, which included the deployment of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to carry out an election security assessment. Leavitt defended Gabbard's presence, stating it was part of her role to ensure American elections are free of foreign interference. Leavitt also criticized the media for questioning the operation, reminding reporters of their past focus on claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

  • The FBI executed the search warrant in Fulton County, Georgia in January 2026.
  • The Mueller investigation into claims of Trump-Russia collusion concluded in March 2019, finding no evidence of collusion.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who defended the FBI's actions in Fulton County and criticized the media's past focus on Russian interference claims.

Tulsi Gabbard

The Director of National Intelligence who was deployed to Fulton County to carry out an election security assessment.

Robert Mueller

The Special Counsel who led the investigation into claims of Trump-Russia collusion, which concluded in 2019 with no evidence of collusion found.

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What they’re saying

“As the director of national intelligence, it is a part of Miss Gabbard's role to make sure that American elections are free of foreign interference and that American elections are safe and secure.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (Fox News)

“Excuse me one second. It's the media who has said that there's Russian interference in American elections. You guys have been saying that for many, many years.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (Fox News)

What’s next

The White House has stated it will continue to keep the media updated on the Fulton County election probe and efforts to ensure the integrity of American elections.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing political tensions around election integrity, with the Trump administration focused on potential issues in the 2020 election and the media's past emphasis on Russian interference in 2016. The White House's defense of the FBI's actions in Fulton County and criticism of the media's questioning of the operation reflects the deep partisan divides on these issues.