On CNN the morning after Donald Trump announced major international tariffs as part of his “Liberation Day,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt struggled to explain her boss’s actions as the network displayed a crashing stock market.
While speaking with CNN host Kate Bolduan, Leavitt spent much of the time talking about how the tariffs would help U.S. consumers and workers. She avoided answering questions about how much economic “pain” Americans would have to bear because of these moves.
Leavitt argued that Wall Street was “missing the massive revenue” these tariffs would bring to the U.S., claiming that it would lead to “trillions and trillions of dollars in investment” and more jobs for American communities.
Bolduan interrupted, pointing out that many farmers are struggling, with some “one crop away from bankruptcy,” and that they couldn’t afford to wait for the tariffs to help in the long run. She asked, “How much pain on a temporary basis is okay?”
Leavitt responded by stressing that President Trump is focused on lowering the cost of living while also putting in place tariffs, deregulation, an energy boom, and tax cuts—policies she says will help Americans. She also highlighted the success of Trump’s first term, mentioning that when he left office, inflation was just 1.4 percent and the tariffs had brought in billions of dollars in revenue.
You can watch the clip from CNN below:
