White House and AP Clash Over Tariffs, Access

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt engaged in a contentious exchange with Associated Press reporter Josh Boak over the Trump administration's tariff policy. During a press briefing, Boak questioned why President Trump was prioritizing tariffs, which he framed as 'tax hikes', over promised tax cuts. Leavitt countered by stating that tariffs are a tax on foreign countries and a benefit to American taxpayers, a stance she defended despite Boak's argument that tariffs are paid by importers, not foreign companies. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions between the White House and the AP, stemming from a dispute over press access and the AP's refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America'. The White House has since restricted AP reporters from certain press events, leading to a lawsuit by the AP on constitutional grounds. The incident underscores broader debates about the economic impact of tariffs and the administration's communication strategies.