Leavitt: One-Month USMCA Auto Exemption; 76% Approved Speech; “Democrats Behaving Like Children”

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt opened the day-after briefing following Trump’s joint address to Congress by announcing a one-month exemption on USMCA-compliant auto imports — granted at the request of Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors — while confirming that “reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2nd.” She then delivered a post-speech report card: a CBS/YouGov survey showed 76% of viewers approved of the address, Daily Mail polling put Trump at “historic highs” in approval, and Leavitt said “President Trump has never been more popular.” She criticized Democrats for refusing to stand “not for the President’s policies” but “for the everyday Americans” Trump had honored, including freed hostage Marc Fogel, calling their behavior “like children.”

One-Month USMCA Auto Exemption

Leavitt opened with breaking trade news that directly affected one of America’s largest industries.

“We spoke with the Big Three auto dealers,” Leavitt announced. “We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA.”

She confirmed the broader tariff timeline remained unchanged: “Reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2nd, but at the request of the companies associated with USMCA, the President is giving them an exemption for one month so they are not at an economic disadvantage.”

Leavitt identified the companies by name: “The three companies that he spoke to are Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors. They requested the call, they made the ask, and the President is happy to do it. It’s a one-month exemption.”

The exemption was notable for several reasons. First, it demonstrated the administration’s willingness to adjust tariff implementation based on direct engagement with the affected industries — a flexibility that critics had said was absent from the tariff policy. Second, the fact that the Big Three automakers had “requested the call” showed that corporate leaders were engaging with the White House on trade policy rather than simply protesting from the sidelines. Third, the one-month window gave manufacturers time to adjust supply chains while maintaining the broader tariff framework.

The USMCA — the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump had negotiated during his first term to replace NAFTA — included specific content requirements for automotive manufacturing. Vehicles that met those requirements had been receiving preferential treatment. The exemption extended that treatment for one additional month, acknowledging that automakers needed time to adjust production schedules in response to the new tariff environment.

”Democrats Behaving Like Children”

Leavitt addressed the Democratic behavior during the joint address with the directness that had become her trademark.

“I gave a quote to one of the media outlets in this room yesterday that Democrats behaving like children would be the least surprising thing of the night,” Leavitt said. “And unfortunately, that quote did turn out to be true.”

She identified the specific moments that had drawn criticism. “I think the President and everyone, frankly, was surprised by the Democrats refusing to stand — not for the President’s policies, because frankly we expected that — but for the everyday Americans who President Trump was shining light on their stories,” Leavitt said.

She cited a specific example: “Marc Fogel, for instance, an American schoolteacher who was detained by the Russians — President Trump freed him. If Joe Biden had done that, they all would have been on their feet. But because it came from President Trump, they weren’t.”

The distinction Leavitt drew — between opposing the president’s policies (expected) and refusing to honor freed hostages and crime victims (inexcusable) — was politically effective. Democrats could justify sitting during partisan policy announcements. They could not justify sitting during the recognition of an American teacher freed from a Russian prison or the family of a murder victim. The optics of remaining seated while the rest of the chamber honored these individuals made the Democratic caucus appear more interested in opposing Trump than in celebrating American achievements.

76% Approval: “The Reviews Are In”

Leavitt delivered the speech’s ratings with evident satisfaction.

“The American people and the entire world watched President Trump powerfully lay out how he’s renewing the American dream in a record-breaking joint address to Congress,” Leavitt said. “And Americans loved what they heard.”

She cited specific data: “According to a CBS/YouGov survey, an overwhelming 76% of those watching approved of President Trump’s speech last night.”

Leavitt added another data point: “According to brand-new polling from the Daily Mail, President Trump has never been more popular, as his approval ratings are reaching historic highs.”

She summarized the trend: “More Americans believe America is headed in the right direction than the wrong direction.”

The 76% approval figure from CBS was particularly significant because the network was not considered sympathetic to the administration. An approval rating that high from a mainstream poll meant that Trump had won over viewers well beyond his base — including independents and some Democrats who were persuaded by the speech’s substance.

The Human Stories That Defined the Night

Leavitt catalogued the individual stories Trump had highlighted during the address, arguing that they represented the heart of his presidency.

“Last night, you also saw who motivates the President to work so hard — everyday Americans,” Leavitt said.

She listed the individuals: “Marc Fogel, who President Trump was finally able to reunite with his family and his beautiful 95-year-old mother after being detained in Russia. Peyton McNabb, whose heart-wrenching story motivated President Trump to end men in women’s sports. Allison and Lauren Phillips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley, who President Trump honored by signing the Laken Riley Act.”

She described surprise moments: “President Trump honored the life of Jocelyn Nungaray, who was brutally murdered by illegal alien gang members. He ensured Jocelyn will never be forgotten by renaming a national wildlife refuge in her home state of Texas to honor her life.”

The biggest surprise: “DJ Daniel, an incredible 13-year-old boy who is beating brain cancer, saw his dreams fulfilled by President Trump when he was made an honorary Secret Service agent.”

The DJ Daniel moment had become the viral sensation of the evening — a cancer-battling teenager being sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent on the floor of Congress, surrounded by cheering lawmakers and with the President looking on. The moment captured Trump’s instinct for dramatic gesture and his genuine connection to individual stories of courage and perseverance.

Key Takeaways

• Leavitt announced a one-month USMCA exemption on autos from Stellantis, Ford, and GM, while confirming “reciprocal tariffs will still go into effect on April 2nd.”
• A CBS/YouGov survey showed 76% of viewers approved of Trump’s joint address, with Daily Mail polling showing “historic highs” in approval.
• Leavitt criticized Democrats for refusing to stand for freed hostage Marc Fogel and other honored Americans, saying “Democrats behaving like children” was “the least surprising thing of the night.”
• She highlighted the speech’s human moments: Marc Fogel’s homecoming, the Laken Riley Act signing, Jocelyn Nungaray’s memorial, and 13-year-old DJ Daniel being made an honorary Secret Service agent.
• Leavitt concluded: “President Trump has never been more popular” and “the reviews are in — everybody loved his speech.”