White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Friday appearance on Hannity that President Donald Trump’s economic agenda is gaining momentum, as dozens of countries signal willingness to pursue new trade agreements with the United States.
Host Sean Hannity pointed to the growing international engagement, noting, “more than 75 countries… all want to come to the table to deal.” He then asked Leavitt whether a finalized agreement was imminent.
“It is true,” Leavitt replied. “We believe that there could be several deals very soon. More than 75 countries have reached out to the administration. More than 15 offers are on the table.”
“And the president’s trade team and the president himself are working very hard to negotiate tailor-made trade deals with every country that has reached out,” she continued.
She credited Trump for using America’s economic “leverage” with a boldness unmatched by his predecessors.
“No other president has had the courage to fully use the leverage of the United States of America,” she stated.
Just two days earlier, Trump announced a 90-day freeze on reciprocal tariffs for all nations except China, which was slapped with a 125% hike.
The move coincided with an uptick in global markets, suggesting investor confidence in the administration’s firm approach to trade.
Leavitt noted that the United States is finally being recognized on the world stage as a country unwilling to be taken for granted.
In a swipe at corporate media, she shared an encounter with a reporter from CNN.
“She said at the premise of her question, ‘Karoline, the whole world is on notice because of what President Trump is doing,’” Leavitt said.
“That’s exactly the point. The world is on notice,” she continued. “The world is finally realizing that under this president, the United States of America is not going to be taken advantage of. This is a president who is going to put our country, our people and our needs first.”
According to Leavitt, foreign governments are now actively contacting the administration in the hopes of working with the United States, not just for economic reasons, but because of the nation’s role in preserving global stability.
“The phones are ringing off the hook because they need the United States of America, not just our economy and our market, but they need us to continue providing peace around this world,” she said.
She added that many countries owe a debt of gratitude to the U.S. for the role it has played in ensuring international security over the years.
“And the president has made that very clear that the American people are finally going to have the front seat at the table, and thank God for it,” she stated.
On the heels of Trump’s tariff decision, China retaliated by hiking tariffs on U.S. imports from 84% to 125%.
Beijing’s Finance Ministry issued a statement calling the U.S. actions “an act of unilateral bullying and coercion,” while also labeling them irrational and a violation of global trade norms.
Despite raising its rates in response, China claimed this would be its final move, regardless of any future increases from Washington.
“Even if the U.S. continues to impose higher tariffs, it will no longer make economic sense and will become a joke in the history of world economy,” the ministry stated.
Trump’s tariff action came after he issued an executive order Thursday raising punitive duties on Chinese goods to 125%, building on previous hikes imposed earlier this year over China’s inaction on the fentanyl crisis. The total effective rate now sits at 145% for Chinese imports.
The president’s order allows most other nations a 90-day grace period during which existing tariffs are paused as long as they don’t retaliate.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) responded to China’s countermeasures by urging Americans to turn away from Chinese products entirely.
“Communist China has chosen to be our adversary,” he said. “Every American family and business should stop buying anything made in Communist China and buy American instead!”
Scott also rolled out a new legislative package aimed at curbing Chinese influence in American financial markets and protecting U.S. investors.
“Communist China has made clear they’re willing to use any means necessary to become the dominant global power,” he said.
“It’s about time we make clear to Communist China that they will be held fully accountable and play by the rules and laws of the United States.”
He argued that the proposals would seal off key loopholes exploited by China and safeguard the nation’s economic and national security.
“My legislative package makes critical changes to crack down on Communist China’s influence in U.S. markets, and bring the change needed to keep Americans’ dollars out of the hands of our enemy,” Scott said.
ALL But China, Iran, Russia, Cuba?