Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) got a real-time fact check on president Donald Trump's economy during a live interview on CNN.
The Kentucky Republican appeared Thursday morning on "CNN News Central" to discuss the tax bill Republicans are trying to pass, and host John Berman corrected his assertion on the cost of living.
"Look, we need to get to 218 [votes]," Barr said. "We obviously have a thin majority, and there's some final details with the [state and local tax] deduction that need to be worked out. We're going to get there, we're going to get there on the final version of the Medicaid changes, the final version of the tax changes, and this is a very, very good bill regardless of where the final details are on the SALT deduction, we know how important this is. We're going to deliver for the American people."
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"I'm flexible and I think most of my colleagues are flexible, but at the end of the day, we have to find that sweet spot where everybody comes together on the same page and deliver for the president," Barr added. "We're very, very close on this, and I think you have to put all of this in the context of being on the verge of passing the president's signature piece of his legislative agenda. But look at where we are early on in this administration, with inflation down to the lowest level. Before, when president [Joe] Biden delivered the inflation nightmare, we have the 10-year treasury coming down. We're now back in a in a bull market with a correction already in place because of reciprocal trade deals on the horizon."
Berman interrupted the congressman with a fact check.
"I will say, congressman, can I ask you," Berman said. "Can I ask you – we did just get the news moments ago, and I'll just ask you because this breaking news, Walmart just said that it is going to have to raise some prices because of the tariffs. What do you think about that? Because the commerce secretary was suggesting that wouldn't need to happen."
Barr downplayed the news, saying this seemed to be part of the president's plan all along.
"Well, the bottom line is this president has given himself leverage to create reciprocal trade deals," Barr said, and Berman interrupted to ask about Walmart's announcement. "Walmart will lower prices in the long run. Prices will come down lower in the long run because we're going to get better deals and, look, if India, the most populous country on planet earth, the largest market, is going to go to zero on tariffs, one of the most protectionist trading partners that we have, you're talking about massive market access, historic market access for American exporters we've never seen before."
"We already have a new trade deal with the United Kingdom," the GOP lawmaker added. "This trade policy is creating massive opportunities, and we're back in a bull market because of the developments that are happening in the trade negotiations."
Barr touted the president's trip to the Middle East as a further example of his economic stewardship, but Berman seemed unconvinced by his arguments.
"We will see, based on what Walmart is saying," Berman said. "I will say, yes, technically in a bull market. Again, a lot of that has to do with the fact that it dropped so much that a 20 percent jump was more possible."
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