Trump Adviser Brushes Off Boss’s Horrid Poll Numbers: ‘The Economy Does Look Amazing To Me’

Kevin Hassett, the Director of the National Economic Council, insisted on Thursday that despite Americans’ negative views on the subject, the economy is “amazing” at the moment.

According to a CNN poll released on Wednesday, a whopping 77% of Americans rate economic conditions in the U.S. as either very or somewhat poor. Meanwhile, 73% said President Donald Trump has not paid enough attention to the country’s most pressing problems. The dismal numbers come amid the ongoing Iran war, which Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started in February. The conflict has sent energy prices surging.

Hassett joined Thursday’s edition of The Lead, where he claimed that Americans are optimistic about the economy, a claim that guest host Pamela Brown pushed back on.

“You said just a moment ago, Kevin, that consumers are optimistic,” Brown said. “But we have this poll where 77% of Americans say economic conditions are overall poor. That is the lowest of Trump’s second term so far.”

“Well, again, right now the economy does look amazing to me,” Hassett said. “The inflation’s going down. The unemployment rate is low. Initial claims like almost no one’s getting fired. And final demand was up about 4%.”

Brown responded by alluding to the most recent jobs report, which showed the economy added just half the jobs that economists had anticipated.

“The job growth cooled last month, and 66% of people, these Americans, everyday Americans, they say President Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in this country,” Brown told Hassett. “That’s 10% more than in the final months of the Biden administration. So, I mean, you say the economy looks ‘amazing,’ but what do you say to that person who’s part of that group, that 66% who say Trump has actually made the economic conditions worse?”

“You know, I just don’t believe a poll like that, given how strong the numbers are and how strong income growth is, how optimistic people are,” Hassett replied.

Watch above via CNN.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!