On Fox News’ Media Buzz, host Howard Kurtz posed a straightforward question to former President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller about President Joe Biden’s administration’s economic achievements, focusing on the recent stock market rally that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpass 41,000 points.
Kurtz question came in response to criticism of the Biden’s administration’s economic record. Inflation has spiked over the past four years, and the administration has consistently received low marks on its handling of the economy from voters in polls. However, as Kurtz noted, the overall economy is now doing quite well, according to multiple indicators and many economists.
“You have every right to say that she [Vice President Kamala Harris] was part of this administration whose record, uh, you criticize, and obviously some of it is unpopular. Don’t they also get credit for things that are positive for example, the record-breaking stock market? Dow broke 41,000 on Friday,” Kurtz inquired, referencing the recent market milestone.
Kurtz: Don’t they get credit for things that are positive? The record breaking stock market. The Dow breaking 41000 on Friday
Miller: That’s simply because businesses think that President Trump is going to come back in. A big part of that, the RFK Jr endorsement pic.twitter.com/r3OsVM3RJT
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 25, 2024
Miller, a long-time Trump loyalist, responded by attributing the market’s performance to anticipation of a potential MAGA return to the White House.”Well, that’s simply because businesses think that President Trump is gonna come back in, and so they’re energized,” Miller stated.
Many online users immediately shot down Miller’s dismissal of Biden’s economic achievements and responded to him on X, formerly Twitter.
Trump’s in office? He gets credit for the stock market. Trump’s not in office? Still gets credit for the stock market. What a deal! https://t.co/IXqgm9jEQL
— Thor Benson (@thor_benson) August 25, 2024
Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign and Biden’s office via email on Saturday for comment.
The senior adviser then pivoted to discuss the recent endorsement of Trump by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his independent presidential campaign the previous week.
Miller emphasized the potential impact of Kennedy’s support, stating, “A big part of that, that RFK junior endorsement that we had on Friday, which is huge, when you look at the numbers state by state, some of the states could be upwards of 13,000 to 20,000 votes. Other states, the RFK Jr endorsement could boost by as much as 40 or even 50,000 votes.”
While the Biden administration has pointed to job growth, declining inflation, and stock market gains as evidence of its economic stewardship, Republicans have consistently criticized the president’s policies, citing concerns over federal spending and energy costs.
Miller’s focus on Kennedy’s endorsement reflects the Trump campaign’s strategy to capitalize on potential third-party support. Recent polling analysis by RacetotheWH suggests that Kennedy’s inclusion as a third-party candidate could significantly impact the electoral map in key swing states.
Senior Advisor to the 2024 Trump campaign Jason Miller speaks during a press conference at Fiserv Forum on July 16, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Miller dismissed President Joe Biden’s economic accomplishments while touting Trump’s RFK…
In Nevada and North Carolina, the analysis indicates that Kennedy’s presence on the ballot could potentially flip these states from Democratic to Republican control in a match-up between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The impact varies across battleground states, with Kennedy potentially drawing between 3.4 percent to 5.6 percent of the vote in crucial contests.
The RacetotheWH analysis provides a state-by-state breakdown of the potential impact. In Arizona, Harris leads Trump by 0.5 points in a head-to-head race, but her lead increases to 0.9 points when third-party candidates are included.
Georgia shows Trump with a 1.8-point lead over Harris in a direct contest, which slightly decreases to 1.7 points with third-party candidates in the mix. Meanwhile, Michigan sees Harris leading Trump by 2.9 points in a two-way race, but this lead narrows to 1.8 points when third-party candidates are factored in.
In Nevada, Harris has a slim 0.4-point lead in a head-to-head matchup, but Trump takes the lead by 0.8 points when third-party candidates are included.
North Carolina shows Harris with a narrow 0.2-point lead in a direct contest, which shifts to a 0.7-point lead for Trump when third-party candidates are added.
Pennsylvania gives Harris a one-point lead over Trump in a straight fight, which increases to 1.4 points with the inclusion of third-party candidates.
Wisconsin shows Harris leading by 2.1 points in a head-to-head race, with her lead expanding to 2.9 points when third-party candidates are considered.
Source : Newsweek