Republican ties himself in knots as CNN host grills him over controversial Trump policy

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) faced off against CNN's Brianna Keilar as he tried to spin President Donald Trump's claims, then tied himself in knots trying to defend the president's language he'd just said was incorrect.

Probed on the issues Thursday, Davidson was faced with the high costs of fuel, clothing, groceries, heating and electricity across the U.S. New inflation numbers out for November prompted economists to scratch their heads as they noticed that key data points were missing from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' report. Meanwhile, jobless numbers are up and manufacturing dipped, despite Trump's tariffs.

"So he trumpeted real wage increases in his speech last night," Keilar said about Trump's national address on Wednesday. "But we know that not all Americans are seeing them. Lower and middle-income wages, so, you know, most of America, they're not outpacing the increase in what people are paying for things. So, if their bank accounts say one thing and the president is saying another, who are they going to believe?"

Davidson conceded that people will likely believe their own experiences over Trump's claims. He cheered Vice President JD Vance instead, saying that he made it clear that the "top 10 percent of Americans are driving the economy," and it will trickle down.

"So, you know, this is coming," said Davidson. "You're going to see it. It's already been done, but you're going to see it in the year ahead."

Keilar pressed that Trump "promised" prices would "decrease quickly" when speaking on the campaign trail in 2024. She quoted the numbers showing that the opposite has been the case, pointing out that wages are not increasing more than inflation.

Davidson claimed that's why it was so important for them to pass the huge tax cuts to the wealthy, so it would trickle down. He then pivoted to blame former President Joe Biden for the Inflation Reduction Act, which he said increased demand for oil and gas while reducing production. He complained that they have a lot of solutions that have passed the House, but the Senate won't vote on.

Keilar then pressed him on Venezuela, saying that it appears the administration is trying to wage war against the country without congressional authorization.

Davidson said he's been assured there will be no war with Venezuela, and that he's received such assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally.

"He has said no less than 17 times in recent months that land strikes could be coming soon," Keilar said, quoting Trump.

"Yeah, well, I'm just telling you, the briefings we've got," Davidson responded.

Less than an hour later, Trump announced "it's been proven" that he doesn't have to ask Congress to approve strikes.

Keilar then questioned Davidson, noting his attack on the use of the word "blockade" regarding Venezuela.

"What people are calling a blockade is really more of — it's targeting sanctioned oil ships," Davidson said. "It's not like we're blocking all shipments going in and out of Venezuela."

"What do you mean by people? Do you mean Trump because he called it a blockade?" Keilar pressed.

The CNN host continued to ask Davidson whether the use of that word was "wrong," putting the Ohio Republican in the awkward position of whether to defend his own words or Trump's.

Watch the exchange below:

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