Karoline Leavitt’s first briefing: Tariffs still coming for Canada

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WASHINGTON — Karoline Leavitt, the youngest individual to function White Home press secretary, made her debut within the briefing room on Tuesday, saying that podcasters and social media influencers might apply to take part in future briefings.

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Leavitt stepped into the room in a magenta pantsuit shortly after 1 p.m. ET. She mentioned earlier than taking questions that reporters have “entry to probably the most clear and accessible president in American historical past” with Donald Trump. She referred to as on Mike Allen of Axios for the primary query.

The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room was the positioning of clashes between spokespeople and journalists throughout Trump’s first time period. Trump, a Republican, additionally made frequent appearances there himself throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

Leavitt, 27, mentioned that she plans to carry briefings continuously, and that Trump can be accessible to reporters for questions. “I can guarantee you that you simply’ll be listening to from each him and me as a lot as doable,” she mentioned.

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Through the briefing, she mentioned the plan to slap Canada with punishing tariffs on Saturday remains to be in play, telling reporters that she spoke with the president Monday night time and he indicated Feb. 1 was “nonetheless on the books” for the introduction of damaging duties in opposition to Canada and Mexico.

Trump initially promised 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs in response to what he referred to as the failure of each international locations to curb the unlawful stream of individuals and medicines throughout the border.

The president has since linked the tariff risk to financial and commerce issues with Canada, and has mentioned repeatedly that it ought to develop into the 51st state.

Trump had 4 press secretaries throughout his first administration: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany. Grisham by no means held a briefing, whereas the others have been extra frequent presences behind the rostrum.

Leavitt was a spokesperson for Trump’s marketing campaign and transition, and he mentioned she did “an outstanding job” when he introduced in November that she’d be his White Home press secretary.

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“Karoline is wise, robust, and has confirmed to be a extremely efficient communicator,” he mentioned then in an announcement. “I’ve the utmost confidence she is going to excel on the podium, and assist ship our message to the American Individuals as we Make America Nice Once more.”

Beforehand, the youngest press secretary was Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the place in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration.

Grisham was arguably the nation’s least seen press secretary in fashionable historical past, not holding a press briefing throughout 9 months on the job. Whereas she made occasional appearances on the Fox Information Channel, she most well-liked to tape her interviews in a studio to keep away from having to talk to reporters who collect on the White Home driveway to interview officers after they seem on TV through cameras arrange outdoors the chief mansion.

The White Home press secretary sometimes serves as the general public face of the administration, and traditionally has held every day briefings for the press corps.

Trump disrupted these norms in his first time period, preferring to function his personal chief spokesperson. Whereas he was president from 2017 to 2021, he continuously most well-liked to have interaction straight with the general public, from his rallies, social media posts and his personal briefings.

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At a information convention this previous August, Trump was requested if he’d have common press briefings in his new administration. He informed reporters, “I gives you whole entry, and also you’ll have lots of press briefings, and also you’ll have, uh, from me.”

When it got here to a press secretary, he mentioned: “Most likely they’ll do one thing. If it’s not every day, it’s going to be so much. You’ll have greater than you need.”

— With information from The Canadian Press

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