Dems are costing America '$15 BILLION a week,’ says Trump economic expert

Government Shutdown and “No Kings” Protests

Protest organizers expected millions of participants in the nationwide “No Kings” protests. The segment reported that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer planned to join them.

Republicans criticized Democrats for not supporting a measure to reopen the government, arguing that the shutdown was disrupting government programs and military pay. Republican speakers alleged that the protests were making Democrats reluctant to compromise; the segment did not independently establish that claim.

Kevin Hassett’s Comments

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the administration’s position and criticized Democrats for prolonging the shutdown. He described the protests as unnecessary in a democracy and estimated that the shutdown was costing the economy $15 billion per week.

Hassett also said Republicans had repeatedly supported temporary funding measures during the Biden administration and urged Democrats to pass a “clean” continuing resolution.

Economic Outlook

Hassett said AI was boosting worker productivity across industries and that the United States had a substantial lead in AI adoption. He cited nearly 4% growth in the current quarter and suggested the country could see an expansion similar to the late 1990s, with strong growth and stock-market returns. These were his assessments and projections.

Potential Shutdown Actions

Asked what might happen if the shutdown continued, Hassett said the president could legally halt some government activities, while excluding defense and national-security matters. He said Trump had not taken that step and was still hoping for a resolution.

Participants

• Presenters: Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt
• Contributor: Kevin Hassett