A MAGA lawmaker and staunch ally of President Donald Trump clashed with a CNN anchor Tuesday over his claims that the economy is growing as Americans express their affordability concerns just hours before the president was set to give his State of the Union address.
CNN anchor Erica Hill asked Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) to respond after sharing comments from Sarah Wells, founder and CEO of Sarah Wells Bags, who described the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs as "a win" for small business owners feeling the weight of the president's levies. Wells explained that in the last year, she has had to lay employees off as a result of the president's trade policy and the difficulties she's faced, estimating up to $500,000 in business losses.
"Do you hear what she's saying?" Hill asked Donalds, who continued to argue that tariffs would benefit middle-class families on their upcoming tax returns and blamed former President Joe Biden for the economy.
"I absolutely hear what she's saying, and I know that President Trump does as well, and this is part of the work that has to be undone from previous administrations," Donalds said.
That's when Hill jumped in, and the two started arguing.
"This is not about previous administrations; this is specifically about the tariffs that the president himself put into place," Hill interjected.
"Hold on, this is important — don't cut me off!" Donalds said. "We're having a nice conversation and now you're cutting me off."