CNN’s animated data guru Harry Enten was flabbergasted by President Donald Trump saying he “loves inflation.”
On June 10, inflation crept above 4% for the first time in three years, thanks in large part to skyrocketing gas prices caused by the the war in Iran.
Later that day, Trump was asked in the Oval Office if he was concerned about inflation, and Trump stunningly said, “No, I love the inflation,” before rambling about American military successes in Iran. Trump appeared to mean that high inflation was a necessary byproduct of ensuring Iran doesn’t get a nuclear weapon.
Enten, 38, hammered Trump on June 11’s CNN News Central.
“It’s one of the most politically tone deaf statements I’ve ever heard,” he cried.
He revealed that Trump is -50 points on inflation across eight different polls. No other president in American history has ever polled worse than -50 on inflation in any poll ever.
The baffled analyst said, “When I hear Trump make that statement, I feel like Mrs. White in Clue going ‘What, what is happening?!?!” He appeared to be misquoting the iconic “flames on the side of my face” moment performed by Madeline Kahn’s Mrs. White in the 1985 comedy murder mystery film Clue.
Enten had no good numbers to talk about for Trump in his segment, noting that he is the only president ever to score an 80% disapproval rating on gas prices.
“Trump has done it, and this war in Iran has done it,” Enten said. “He has fueled record frustration on inflation and record frustration on gas prices.”
CNN’s Kate Bolduan then asked Enten to discuss the response to Trump’s stunning gaffe from Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Enten suggested Republicans are scrambling because for the first time since the 1970s, Democrats are more trusted on inflation than Republicans.
“The last time Democrats were more trusted on inflation was 1978, when an inflation boom took Jimmy Carter out,” Enten explained. “If history is prologuing this situation, it’s gonna take the Republican majority in the House out as well.”
Republicans have already been scrambling to try and spin how a three-year inflation high will actually be a good thing for the GOP come the crucial November midterms.
Before Trump’s statement, Senate Majority Leader John Thune tried to say that once the numbers start to come down after the war ends, voters will swing back to Trump.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright tried to answer for Trump’s statement in a fiery House hearing, saying, “He’s an entertaining, hyperbolic guy who has done tremendous leadership.”
After the viral comment, Trump doubled down with a more coherent answer, telling the New York Post, “I love the inflation numbers because of what I’m talking about. The numbers are going to be phenomenal because what’s showing is that, despite the fact that we’re in a war, the numbers are much lower than anticipated, and when we’re out of that war, the numbers will be at lower numbers than they were even before it started.”