CNN host corners top GOP official over lack of 'concern' for economy

On Monday, a top Republican official found himself flailing to defend President Donald Trump and the GOP’s inattention to the economic suffering of Americans. According to Mike Hurst – Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party and general counsel for the Republican National Committee – inflation is “not a chief concern for our party.”

Hurst was appearing on CNN when host Boris Sanchez asked about “one of the chief concerns for voters, and that is gas prices.” As Sanchez explained, “Under President Trump's second term, the average is now higher than under President Biden, driven by the war with Iran. Almost eight months into this war, officials tell CNN that Trump is leaning toward major new strikes after the election. Can you tell us whether Senator Hyde-Smith supports renewed war with Iran?” His question comes as polls show Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) – who has consistently supported the war’s continuation, voting against resolutions to end it – is fighting a surprisingly tight race considering Mississippi’s firmly deep red history against Democratic candidate Scott Colom. According to the latest surveys, her lead may be as narrow as three points.

“I think what Senator Hyde-Smith and the Republicans support is a no nuclear Iran,” said Hurst. “Yes, gas prices are a little bit higher. But what I can also tell you is the wages are higher for Americans.” While this assertion is accurate, Hurst did not mention the fact that inflation has outpaced wage gains, squeezing Americans’ paychecks more and more. And while he attempted to promote a handful of Trump’s economic policies like the elimination of tax on tips and overtime, recent numbers show that the average American household has paid $1,100 for the war, so far. “So yeah,” asserted Hurst, ”while gas prices are a little bit higher, the overall economy and the average American is doing better than they ever did during the four years of Joe Biden.”

“President Trump himself said that Iran's nuclear program was totally annihilated the summer before, only a few months before he launched these renewed attacks in February,” countered Sanchez. “And generally, in terms of the economy, inflation is higher now than when President Trump took office some 20 months ago. So is your view that these higher gas prices are not a chief concern for your party?”

“It's not a chief concern for our party because we're making our country safer,” said Hurst, before stammering a reference to sacrifices made during World War 2. “That great generation had to step up and defend our liberty and our freedom. And right now, that's what President Trump is doing. We forget how we were the laughing stock of the world during the Biden administration. Now we are respected once again, and President Trump is making us safer.” Polls indicate that Americans disagree, with the latest numbers from Pew showing that just 35 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of foreign policy, including the war.