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White House Press Secretary Challenges AP Reporter on Tariffs and Economic Strategy

In a recent interview, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Associated Press correspondent Josh Boak for what she described as a failure to comprehend President Trump’s overarching economic strategy. This exchange followed a lively briefing session where tariffs became a focal point of discussion.

During her conversation on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo, Leavitt remarked, “He [Boak] clearly fails to see President Trump’s long-term economic strategy, which is to bring in so much revenue, so much wealth into our country through tariffs, that we can give larger tax cuts to the American people to put more money back into their pockets.”

This dialogue was precipitated by a previous press briefing in which Boak queried about President Trump’s upcoming address at the Business Roundtable (BRT) meeting. Boak was keen to highlight a contradiction he perceived in Trump’s economic messaging. He pointed out that during a prior BRT meeting, Trump had emphasized tax cuts, yet currently appeared to support tariffs—which Boak categorized as “tax hikes.”

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Leavitt responded to Boak’s assertions by asserting that President Trump is not imposing tax increases. “Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off. Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people, and the president is a staunch advocate of tax cuts,” she stated emphatically.

The tension escalated when Boak pressed the point that importers, rather than foreign businesses, are effectively the ones shouldering the burden of these tariffs. He questioned, “I’m sorry, have you paid a tariff? Because I have.”

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In response, Leavitt characterized Boak’s queries as “insulting,” suggesting that he was attempting to undermine her grasp of economic principles and Trump’s policy decisions.

Returning to the topic of media coverage, Leavitt expressed her frustrations with what she sees as a tendency among mainstream outlets to prioritize sensationalism over substantive inquiry. She stated, “That’s why the trust in the mainstream media has fallen to record lows, and that’s why, at the White House, we are very proud of the changes that we have made to the briefing room and also to the press coverage of this president, welcoming in independent voices and new media who truly care about the truth, honesty and accuracy.”

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