‘That’s a Hypothetical Question’: Karoline Leavitt Chides Reporter for Asking if Trump Tariffs Will Cause Price Hikes
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed questions on Friday about whether 25% tariffs coming in a matter of hours will drive consumer costs up.
Leavitt confirmed during a Friday press conference that President Donald Trump’s promised 25% tariffs on imported goods from Mexico and Canada (as well as 10% on China) will go into effect on Saturday.
Trump has cited illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl as the reasons for the tariffs, but a number of economists have warned these tariffs could likely lead to costs being passed on to consumers. Leavitt sidestepped a question on Friday about whether the administration could “guarantee” that prices will not rise after the tariffs are in place.
Leavitt said:
I think Americans who are concerned about increased prices look at what President Trump did in his first term. He effectively implemented tariffs and the average inflation rate during the first Trump administration was 1.9%. In fact when President Trump left office, it was 1.4% so President Trump is going to do everything he possibly can to cut the inflation crisis that the previous administration imposed on the American people and he will continue to effectively utilize tariffs.
ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang followed up her first question by asking whether the administration would “reverse” tariffs if consumer costs do go up, and Leavitt dismissed the question, chiding the media for looking at Trump’s economic policies through a “microscope.”
She said:
That’s a hypothetical question and the president is intent on ensuring that he effectively implements tariffs while cutting inflation and costs for the American people. And, you know, the media has this way of looking everything in a microscope rather than the whole government economic approach that this president is taking. He will effectively implement tariffs. He’s also… committed to tax cuts. He’s also clearly committed, as evidenced by his executive orders, to unleashing the might of their energy industry, which we know will eventually drive down inflation. All the other economic measures the president has made will have a Trump incoming economic just like we saw in our first term.
Leavitt later denied the tariffs would create a “trade war” with Canada after being asked about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promising a “response” if the tariffs are actually put in place.
“[Trump] will respond to Mr. Trudeau’s comments in due time, I’m sure,” Leavitt said.
Watch above via Fox News.
