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A heated exchange unfolded during Tuesday’s White House press briefing when Associated Press reporter Josh Boak and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clashed over the administration’s tariff policies.

The confrontation began as Boak questioned Leavitt about President Trump’s upcoming address to the Business Roundtable. He pointed out that Trump’s previous BRT appearance focused on tax cuts, then asked why the president was now emphasizing what he characterized as “tax hikes in the form of tariffs.”

Leavitt firmly rejected this characterization, stating “he’s actually not implementing tax hikes.” She further explained that “Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries that, again, have been ripping us off,” and emphasized that “Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people, and the president is a staunch advocate for tax cuts.”

The exchange grew more contentious when Boak challenged Leavitt’s understanding, asking if she had personal experience paying tariffs and asserting that importers, not foreign companies, bear the cost.

Visibly frustrated, Leavitt defended the administration’s position, highlighting the potential benefits of tariffs including wage increases and job creation for Americans. She then addressed Boak’s confrontational approach directly, stating “I think it’s insulting that you’re trying to test my knowledge of economics and the decision that this president has made,” before adding “I now regret giving a question to The Associated Press.”

While tariffs remain a subject of legitimate economic debate, with critics emphasizing their impact on consumer prices and supporters highlighting domestic economic benefits, the exchange exemplified growing tensions between the administration and mainstream media outlets.

The confrontational nature of Boak’s questioning may have been influenced by recent restrictions on AP’s White House access, stemming from their continued use of “Gulf of Mexico” rather than the officially updated “Gulf of America” in their reporting.

The incident underscores broader criticisms of establishment media’s approach to coverage, with many viewing such exchanges as evidence of partisan activism rather than objective journalism. Leavitt’s firm response to Boak’s challenging tone resonated with viewers who share these concerns about media bias.