White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clashed with an Associated Press reporter over Trump's tariff policies, insisting tariffs are a "tax cut for the American people."
During a press briefing, AP reporter Josh Boak confronted Leavitt on why Trump was proposing tariffs—seen by many economists as tax increases—rather than the tax cuts he had promised.
Leavitt: Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries and a tax cut for the American people
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 11, 2025
Reporter: Have you ever paid a tariff? I have. They don’t get charged on foreign countries
Leavitt: I think it’s insulting that you are trying test my knowledge on economics pic.twitter.com/usJyrfEZFP
Leavitt responded by arguing that tariffs were a tax on foreign nations and a benefit to American consumers.
"He's actually not implementing tax hikes. Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off," Leavitt said. "Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people, and the president is a staunch advocate for tax cuts."
Boak, pushing back, asked if she had ever paid a tariff, pointing out that tariffs are actually paid by importers, not foreign countries.
"I'm sorry, have you ever paid a tariff? Because I have. They don't get charged on foreign companies, they get charged on importers," Boak said.
The exchange quickly turned heated, with Leavitt accusing Boak of attempting to challenge her knowledge of economics and expressing regret for granting AP a question.
"I think it's insulting that you're trying to test my knowledge of economics, and the decision that this president has made," Leavitt said. "I now regret giving a question to The Associated Press."
The White House's ongoing feud with the AP is likely to escalate, particularly as a federal judge has set a March 20 hearing on AP's legal challenge regarding press access.
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