Leavitt Backs 50% Steel Tariffs, Defends Border Policy and FEMA Readiness Amid Senate Bill Debate

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a briefing on June 3, 2025, covering border security, federal disaster response, tariffs, and foreign policy.

Leavitt criticized The Washington Post for its coverage of the decline in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border, attributing the reduction to the administration’s border policies and strengthened cooperation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She stated that the administration had provided explanations to the Post, which were not published.

Addressing questions about the impact of federal workforce cuts on FEMA’s hurricane response, Leavitt said FEMA, led by Kristi Noem and its leadership, is prepared and engaged, dismissing concerns raised by media reports.

Leavitt responded to reports of Israeli forces firing on Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza, stating the administration is aware of the reports and is verifying their accuracy, emphasizing caution in accepting claims from Hamas and referencing a recent BBC retraction.

Regarding the MAHA report linked to RFK Jr., Leavitt confirmed that the issues were limited to formatting errors, which have been corrected by White House policy teams.

Leavitt defended President Trump’s new 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, set to take effect at midnight. She cited support from U.S. steelworkers, including a Pennsylvania worker who called the move the greatest thing to happen to the community in 60 years. She also noted that Trump is seeking to pass his "big beautiful bill" in the Senate but faces opposition from Sen. Rand Paul over concerns about the bill’s impact on the debt limit.