In-town pool report 3 -- briefing ends

The briefing ended at 2:00 pm, lasting about 41 minutes.

Bessent and Loeffler spoke about tax season before launching into Q&A with Leavitt. There were questions taken on the economy, Iran and China, among other topics.

Leavitt said there is no formal agreement yet from the U.S. to have a second round of negotiations with Iran. She said if talks happen, they will likely be in Pakistan.

Leavitt and Bessent also answered a question about the economic reality of the war with Iran.

Bessent said the message to voters is "short-term volatility for long-term gain."

Leavitt added that the president has been clear that "this is short-term disruption for the long-term strategic goal of the United States to ensure that the world's leading state sponsor of terror cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.”

POTUS events are still closed.

Diana Nerozzi | White House reporter

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