Press Sec Torches AP Reporter For Trying To ‘Test’ Her On Economics

 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt torched an Associated Press reporter during Tuesday’s briefing, telling him it was “insulting” that he’d attempted to test her understanding of economics.

The reporter posed a question about the tariffs President Donald Trump has threatened to levy against multiple nations around the globe — tariffs that his administration says are designed to bring about trade deals that are ultimately more balanced and fair — and claimed that they would just be another “tax” that hurt American consumers.

Leavitt pushed back immediately, explaining that the goal was to reach a balance where other nations were not placing massive tariffs on American goods without consequence.

“I think it’s insulting that you are trying to test my knowledge of economics … I now regret giving a question to the Associated Press,” Leavitt added.

Adding insult to injury, the photographer who took the iconic photo of President Donald Trump just after his attempted assassination at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally has won a prestigious award for that image, but is no longer allowed to cover the president.

The photo that captured the moment when Trump stood up — face bloodied and fist raised — as Secret Service agents attempted to rush him off the stage, was awarded Political Photo of the Year by the White House News Photographers Association. But because photographer Evan Vucci is employed by The Associated Press — and his outlet has been banned from the White House — he can no longer cover President Trump.

Vucci complained about the scenario in a post on X, arguing that his photo was proof that he and his outlet — which he claimed was “nonpartisan” — were needed in that space.

“This photo underscores the importance of eyewitness journalism and AP’s legacy of documenting the presidency,” Vucci posted, adding, “I look forward to the day I can once again cover President Trump alongside my colleagues. Now more than ever, independent, nonpartisan photojournalism is essential.”

The AP was banned from the White House over a refusal to update its style guide to include the Gulf of America, as it was recently renamed by President Donald Trump via executive order.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich explained, “While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.”

“Going forward, that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration,” Budowich continued, also arguing that the AP’s refusal to make the change was “not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press’ commitment to misinformation.”