Tensions Flair At Latest Press Briefing

On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt found herself in a heated exchange with an Associated Press (AP) reporter during a press briefing, particularly over President Trump’s use of tariffs. The rare interaction followed a series of questions about the economic implications of Trump’s tariff policies, which have been met with concerns about market volatility and potential recession fears.

Leavitt was questioned on the President’s tariff strategy, with the reporter asking why Trump, who had promised tax cuts on the campaign trail, was now implementing what appeared to be “tax hikes in the form of tariffs.” Leavitt quickly defended the President’s position, stating, “He’s not raising taxes; tariffs are a tax on foreign countries that have been taking advantage of us. They’re a tax cut for the American people, and President Trump is a strong supporter of tax cuts.”

The AP reporter, Josh Boak, pressed further, asking if Leavitt had ever personally paid a tariff, to which she responded by asserting that the impact of tariffs would ultimately benefit American workers by increasing wages and generating revenue for the country. Leavitt became visibly frustrated, replying, “I think it’s insulting that you’re questioning my knowledge of economics and the decisions this president has made.”

This exchange was part of an ongoing tension between the White House and the AP, which has had its access restricted after the news agency declined to adopt the Trump administration’s preference for referring to the “Gulf of America” instead of the “Gulf of Mexico” in its stylebook. The dispute has been exacerbated by the AP’s exclusion from key White House events, including pool coverage, and the broader issue of press freedom. A federal judge recently declined to restore AP’s access, signaling that the legal battle over media access to the president may intensify.

This ongoing clash underscores a broader battle over the media’s role in reporting on the President and his policies, as well as the Trump administration’s approach to handling disagreements with the press.