White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back during a tense briefing after an Associated Press reporter suggested President Trump’s proposed tariff program was effectively a tax increase on Americans.
Leavitt rejected the claim, saying the tariffs target foreign countries that have “been defrauding us for decades” rather than U.S. families. She framed the policy as a corrective measure to protect domestic industries, strengthen supply chains, and ultimately boost wages.
Acknowledging that importers might face higher costs, Leavitt said fair, reciprocal trade would benefit American workers in the long run. She emphasized that the administration’s broader tax agenda—including cuts on overtime, tips, and Social Security—shows the president remains focused on lowering the overall tax burden for working families.
