At a news briefing Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “the phones are ringing off the hooks” from countries hoping to make trade deals after President Donald Trump’s chaotic tariff rollout.
Watch Leavitt’s briefing in the player above.
Though Trump initially imposed high tariffs on many countries, he walked the vast majority of them back to 10 percent for 90 days on Wednesday. The major exception is a 145 percent tariff on imports from China, which retaliated Friday by raising its tariffs on U.S. goods to 125 percent.
Trump “would be gracious if China intends to make a deal with the United States,” Leavitt said. “If China continues to retaliate, it’s not good for China.”
She added: “The president made it very clear when the United States is punched, he will punch back harder.”
Leavitt also said that allied countries have been reaching out to the U.S. to make deals, including South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Italy. She said countries need the American consumer base and markets for their businesses to succeed.
Global markets have been volatile for the past week as the unfolding trade wars stoke uncertainty among businesses and investors. Trump said Wednesday that he paused his tariffs after people got “yippy.”
SAVE Act
Leavitt said Friday that married women who have changed their last names will still be able to vote under the SAVE Act, which was passed by the House on Thursday.
READ MORE: House passes Republican bill requiring voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship
Leavitt called it “fearmongering” from Democrats who oppose the bill that women with different last names than ones on their identification and birth certificates wouldn’t be able to vote in elections. Voting rights groups have argued that the legislation could erect barriers that would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.
The House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, last year as well, but it died in the Senate. The bill will now again head to the Senate, where it will need 60 votes to pass.
Iran nuclear talks
Leavitt said that Iran must agree to Trump’s demands for face-to-face nuclear negotiations with the United States, instead of the indirect talks that Tehran wants.
“Iran has a choice to make: You can agree to President Trump’s demand or there will be all hell to pay,” Leavitt said.
She said the goal of the talks is to ensure that Iran never has access to nuclear weapons.
Leavitt also confirmed that Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is in Russia negotiating with President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine.
“I obviously will not get ahead of the president or his team, but I think the president has been quite clear that he’s been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict, and he wants to see this fighting end. He wants the war to end,” Leavitt said.
