White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump will make an official visit to Saudi Arabia in May.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reiterated Tuesday that the new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump for Wednesday "will take effect immediately" and urged Americans to be patient with the expected rise in prices. "It's going to work," she said.
Leavitt acknowledged that while consumer concerns are "legitimate," she emphasized that Trump's plan seeks to "protect future generations" and ensure that the United States can "live the American dream."
"The president has a brilliant team of advisors who have been studying these issues for decades," said Leavitt, who added that the plan will continue to be "refined" until the very last moment it is announced to ensure it is "perfect for the American people."
The so-called "Liberation Day" is the ostentatious name President Trump has given to the implementation of his plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign products, of which few details are yet known.
Leavitt has indicated that Trump remains willing to negotiate an extension with both foreign leaders and representatives of affected companies, amid growing fears that the overnight implementation of tariffs would quickly drive up prices.
In that sense, he explained that although Trump "is always willing to negotiate well, he is also very focused on correcting the mistakes of the past and demonstrating that American workers are being treated fairly."
TRUMP'S TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA
On the other hand, Leavitt has qualified President Trump's statements when he stated the day before that he would travel to Saudi Arabia "next month," statements that could be misleading given that they were made back in March.
"The president will be traveling to Saudi Arabia in May. As for the dates and specific details, we will communicate those to you as soon as possible," Leavitt said. When asked whether a ceasefire in Ukraine would be a prerequisite, she emphasized that Washington continues to work toward that end.
These statements by Trump, made back in March, had caused uncertainty, as a possible visit to Saudi Arabia was being considered for this April, although Leavitt came forward this Tuesday from the White House to clarify the timing of the trip, which will be detailed later.
In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has become the focal point of the main talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Representatives of the United States have already met several times separately with Russian and Ukrainian envoys, outlining the principles of an agreement for a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea and against energy infrastructure.
