Trump spokesperson scrambles to defend tariffs as CNN graphics show stock market sinking

During an appearance on CNN the morning after Donald Trump announced sweeping international tariffs as part of his so-called "Liberation Day," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt scrambled to defend her boss' moves as CNN graphics showed a stock market collapse.

Speaking with host Kate Bolduan, Leavitt went on extended diatribes about how the tariffs would benefit U.S. consumers and workers alike as she ducked questions from the CNN host about how much economic "pain" the administration believes Americans will tolerate.

With Leavitt insisting Wall Street is "missing the massive revenue that these tariffs are going to bring into the United States. Trillions and trillions of dollars in investment, which leads to more jobs in American communities," the CNN host interjected, "Karoline, sorry to interrupt, but on the immediate, on the in the most immediate, I mean, these farmers, as [NC GOP Sen.] Thom Tillis says, farmers are one crop away from bankruptcy. That farmer doesn't have time to wait for tariffs to work their way into the system; the benefit of it to work its way into the system at all, this is going to mean higher prices for Americans in the most immediate [time]."

ALSO READ: 'Not much I can do': GOP senator gives up fight against Trump's tariffs

"That's why I asked the question how much pain on a temporary basis is, okay –– what's the standard that the president is looking at in terms of how much pain Americans can feel on a temporary basis? That he's okay with?" Bolduan pressed.

"Again, the president is focused every single day on lowering the cost of living in this country while simultaneously implementing these very effective tariffs. Massive deregulation, an energy boom and tax cuts are the economic formula that will mean more prosperity in the lower cost of living and it's a proven formula," she replied before insisting, once again, "Look at President Trump's first term and the results. When he left office, inflation was 1.4 percent. He implemented many tariffs in his first term, that did bring in billions of dollars in revenue."

You can watch below or at the link.

- YouTubeyoutu.be