White House defends tariffs as consumer confidence falters

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Trump istration continued to defend its use of tariffs on Friday amid an escalating trade war and signs of plummeting consumer confidence.

After China announced earlier in the day that it would increase tariffs on U.S.-made goods to 125 percent, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a daily press briefing that President Trump is “optimistic” that China will seek a trade deal. But she also said that the president will not back down if China continues to retaliate.

“The president made it very clear when the United States is punched, he will punch back harder,” she said. “And he hopes to make a deal that benefits the American worker and our companies that have been ripped off for far too long. And he’s finally taking bold and courageous action to do that.”

Leavitt also said that 75 counties had reached out to the Trump istration to address trade issues.

Beijing announced the tariff increase after the Trump istration clarified Thursday that it would now charge a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

The tariff news came just as new data was released Friday by the University of Michigan, showing that consumer confidence in the economy has plummeted and inflation fears are at their highest point since 1981.

The university’s Consumer Sentiment Index showed, preliminarily, that consumer sentiment fell for the fourth straight month, down 30 percent from December.

Democratic Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement after the release of the data saying in part:

“Today’s terrible consumer confidence number is further evidence of the Trump Slump and anyone that believes the chaos and ensuing crisis of Trump’s tariff flip flop is behind us is sadly mistaken.”

Copyright 2025 Gray DC. All rights reserved.