State Department Briefing: Bruce on Tariffs, 139 Grants Cancelled Worth $214 Million, and Iran Talks, Apr. 15, 2025

Name: "State Department Briefing: Bruce on Tariffs, 139 Grants Cancelled Worth $214 Million, and Iran Talks, Apr. 15, 2025"
Uploaded: 2025-04-15
Duration: 1 h 45 min 6 s
Description: "Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said over 130 countries were coming to renegotiate trade with the United States, that the State Department cancelled another 139 grants worth $214 million under Secretary Rubio's direction, and that a deal with Iran must end its enrichment and weaponization program, according to the briefing."

April 15, 2025 · U.S. Department of State · 1:45:06

Embedded from the source channel — never re-uploaded. Watch on YouTube

What happened

Spokesperson Tammy Bruce opened the April 15, 2025 briefing with a message against antisemitism, saying the United States stands with Jewish communities and will fight antisemitism with unwavering determination, according to Bruce.

On tariffs, Bruce said President Trump’s effort involves changing the country’s trading trajectory after a web of unfair arrangements, and that over 130 countries were coming to renegotiate their trade relationship with the United States, according to the briefing. She announced that the State Department had cancelled another 139 grants worth $214 million under Secretary Rubio’s direction, quoting the secretary that American taxpayers should not be funding misguided programs, according to Bruce.

Bruce said Ambassador Steven Witkoff’s talks with Iran the prior weekend were described by the White House as very positive and productive, with the sides to meet again the next Saturday, and she relayed Witkoff’s standard: a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal, under which Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program, according to the briefing. She also noted Expo 2025 Osaka’s opening and the U.S. pavilion, and Secretary Rubio joining President Trump to welcome El Salvador’s President Bukele, with dangerous gang members deported to El Salvador’s prison, according to Bruce.

Why it matters

The briefing bundles the department’s spring 2025 posture — tariff renegotiations, grant cancellations under the secretary’s taxpayer rationale, and the stated terms for any Iran deal — as the spokesperson presented them.

Sources: U.S. Department of State, “Department of State Press Briefing - April 15, 2025 - 2:00 PM”, 2025-04-15 (official upload, embedded above; published 2025-04-15). Transcript via Supadata (private research store, paraphrased and attributed, not republished). All figures and characterizations as stated by the speakers.