Karoline Leavitt shuts down AP reporter after 'insulting' question on tariffs

Fox News ^ | March 11, 2025 | Lindsay Kornick

[Navy Patriot]

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sparred with an Associated Press reporter Tuesday over ... an "insulting" question "trying to test [her] knowledge of economics."

AP's Josh Boak asked about President Donald Trump's address at the Business Roundtable (BRT) quarterly meeting that was set to occur after the White House press briefing. He claimed that despite Trump previously touting tax cuts during his last BRT meeting in 2024, the president is now pushing "tax hikes" through tariffs.

Leavitt objected to this line of questioning, interrupting him, saying, "Not true."

"I’m curious why he is prioritizing that over tax cuts," Boak said as Leavitt responded, "He is not doing that."

"He is actually not implementing tax hikes," Leavitt said. "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."

"As you know, he campaigned on no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, no taxes on Social Security benefits. He has committed to all three of those things, and he expects Congress to pass them later this year," she added.

"I’m sorry, have you paid a tariff? Because I have," Boak responded. "They don’t get charged on foreign companies. They get charged on the importers."

"And ultimately, when we have fair and balanced trade, which the American people have not seen in decades, as I said at the beginning, revenues will stay here, wages will go up, and our country will be made wealthy again," Leavitt said.

"And I think it’s insulting that you are trying to test my knowledge of economics and the decisions that this president has made. I now regret giving a question to the Associated Press," she said, moving on to another reporter.

[Navy Patriot]

Lying Associated Presstitutes are finally getting their comeuppance dished out by a real White House press secretary.

[Mr. K]

I was watching the other day and saw she did not give a question to Kaitlan Collins either.

She looked pretty stewed..

Is she no longer giving her questions?

[shelterguy]

Maybe she is only taking questions from actual journalists.

[catnipman]

” I now regret giving a question to the Associated Press,” she said, moving on to another reporter.”

well, karoline, that’s easy to rectify: never call on the AP again ...ever ...

[Shady]

Which would be a very pleasant change from the Presstitution of that briefing room.

[hinckley buzzard]

AP should routinely be ignored, since they have long since left journalism behind.

[Navy Patriot]

I believe Kaitlan Collins is also on her $**t list, and it’s hard to get off.

[Navy Patriot]

I already routinely ignore AP, and try to use Fox, Newsmax and OANN staff writers.

[fidelis]

Que bueno. She gave the perfect answer, slapping them down when they start to play games. I think there should be a 3 strikes you're out policy in the Briefing Room for "gotcha" or belligerent questions asked by reporters for a news agency. Immediate expulsion if they are openly hostile, including interrupting or trying to talk over the Press Secretary and Whitehouse Spokesman. If they're going to act like children, they should be treated like children.

[Allegra]

I believe Kaitlan Collins is also on her $**t list, and it’s hard to get off.

I think Kaitlan is my least favorite, but there are a few close seconds.

Plus, Kaitlan looks like Dylan Mulvaney. Or vice-versa.

[Fuzz]

It tariffs aren’t taxes, what are they?

[fidelis]

A tariff is a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country to influence trade, raise revenues, or protect interests.

A tax is a mandatory financial charge imposed by a government on individuals or entities to fund public services and government expenditures. Taxes can be based on income, property, sales, or other transactions.

[Bob434]

someone should tariff Kaitlan for looking like the trannie dylan dude

[sauropod]

bkmk

[tumblindice]

Joe had a seating chart with friendly reporters ID’d.
There must be a camera algorithm that can make the troublemakers glow red, like a Black Mirror episode, so that she can just ignore them if they insist on attending.
She shouldn’t have to argue with these ****birds.
I remember Blinken had some disruptive journos tossed in December. Start seat of the pantsing them, like the Werewolf Geico Caveman.

[DoughtyOne]

Saw it. She stated it was a clear mistake to let someone
from the AP ask a question.

Never been more right...

[Waverunner]

It’s true, they practice Urinalism now. Just piss on America. That’s their ticket.

[Navy Patriot]

Interesting, good ideas!

[Fuzz]

The first sentence, AI. The second, Wikipedia.

Sheesh. That’s lazy as hell.

They’re both taxes used to increase revenue for the government that comes out of your pocket. Either directly, or through higher prices passed on to the consumer.

[Navy Patriot]

Agree.