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But during his questioning by a Senate committee, he sought to play down some of his past statements, saying he would "carry out the president's priorities", not his, and denied backing the expulsion of Palestinians.

Speaking to broadcaster Howard Stern, White played down reports of any "fight" but acknowledged the pair had not seen eye to eye.

Trump's top officials have repeatedly played down recession fears, and insisted that the tariffs would be implemented as planned.

In a series of television interviews, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent played down recent stock market falls and Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, insisted reciprocal tariffs "are coming".

He said the players fell short of his "high standards" but then played down the situation by adding it was "nothing" and it was "normal for the players to be relaxed" during the international break.