A reporter brutally schooled the White House over the economic impact of tariffs and their response made it even better

Donald Trump’s mission to Make America Great Again can be boiled down to a single word right now – yes, you’ve guessed it – tariffs.

The President is putting an awful lot of faith in them, with the accent very much on awful.

Because it’s fair to say people with a more detailed knowledge of this sort of thing – most people, then – think Trump’s obsession with tariff hikes won’t make America great again at all.

And this Associated Press journalist tried to explain precisely how tariffs work to Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. And it’s fair to say it didn’t end well. For Leavitt, that is.

And their response makes the whole thing even better. Run VT!

Leavitt: Tariffs are a tax hike on foreign countries and a tax cut for the American people

Reporter: Have you ever paid a tariff? I have. They don’t get charged on foreign countries

Leavitt: I think it’s insulting that you are trying test my knowledge on economics pic.twitter.com/usJyrfEZFP

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 11, 2025

Ooof!

And here are our favourite things people said about it.

1.

The gaslighting won’t work!

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is called out by the AP on her lies about tariffs.

She tries to claim that tariffs are not a tax on Americans when in fact they are, but this reporter isn’t having it. pic.twitter.com/GMpgXhVMDs

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 11, 2025

2.

I think it’s insulting that she stands behind that podium and lies on our dime. https://t.co/0Nd5CGImWD

— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) March 11, 2025

3.

Is she really that stupid or is she just parroting her boss? Because if she she really believes tariffs are a “tax cut” on the American people she’s dumber then she looks.

— Leonidas K (@leoknyc777) March 11, 2025

4.

BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Karoline Leavitt is fact checked in real time, schooled by an AP reporter “Have you ever paid a tariff? I have. They don’t get charged on foreign countries.” This is the kind of pushback we need to see more of.pic.twitter.com/mczMR1thBo

— Really American (@ReallyAmerican1) March 11, 2025

5.

Leavitt is a joke. Everything out of her mouth is a lie, or a piece of right-wing propaganda that nobody is swallowing anymore

— Groucho Marxist (@Richard89220241) March 11, 2025

6.

Leavitt: I’m the victim here! You’re asking me questions I don’t want to answer. I don’t even understand the question. I’m the victim!

— MMouse (@MouseFahy) March 11, 2025

7.

“Tariffs are a tax cut for the American people” pic.twitter.com/sjNf8RSCl4

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) March 11, 2025

8.

Good for the reporter to push back.

— Lucas Sanders ️ (@LucasSa56947288) March 11, 2025