On a recent episode of Fox News’ Media Buzz, host Howard Kurtz asked Jason Miller, former President Donald Trump’s senior adviser, about President Biden’s economic record, especially following a stock market surge that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average exceed 41,000 points.
Kurtz’s inquiry came amidst ongoing criticism of Biden’s economic policies, particularly as inflation has risen sharply over the last four years. Polls indicate that many voters are unsatisfied with the administration’s economic management. However, Kurtz pointed out that economic indicators and numerous economists suggest that the economy is on the upswing.
“You have every right to critique the administration, but shouldn’t they also be recognized for positive developments, like the stock market hitting record highs?” Kurtz asked, referencing the latest figures.
Kurtz: Don’t they get credit for things that are positive? The record breaking stock market. The Dow breaking 41000 on Friday
Miller: That’s simply because businesses think that President Trump is going to come back in. A big part of that, the RFK Jr endorsement pic.twitter.com/r3OsVM3RJT
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 25, 2024
Miller, a loyal Trump supporter, attributed the stock market’s gains to a generalized optimism about Trump’s potential return to the presidency. He claimed, “Businesses are energized because they believe Trump is coming back.”
Many social media users quickly criticized Miller’s views on Biden’s economic accomplishments, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their opinions.
Trump’s in office? He gets credit for the stock market. Trump’s not in office? Still gets credit for the stock market. What a deal! https://t.co/IXqgm9jEQL
— Thor Benson (@thor_benson) August 25, 2024
Miller also discussed the endorsement of Trump by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently suspended his independent presidential run. He stressed the potential electoral impact, stating, “This endorsement could swing 13,000 to 50,000 votes in various states.”
While the Biden administration highlights job growth, decreasing inflation, and stock market successes as signs of economic progress, Republicans continue to criticize Biden’s policies, raising alarms about spending and energy prices.
Miller’s comments reflect Trump’s campaign strategy to leverage third-party support. According to recent analyses, Kennedy’s candidacy could influence key swing states significantly, as shown in polling data.
In states like Nevada and North Carolina, Kennedy’s presence on the ballot may swing votes from Democratic to Republican. The data suggests he could attract between 3.4% and 5.6% of the vote, thereby affecting outcomes in pivotal races.
In Arizona, for example, Harris leads Trump by 0.5 points head-to-head, but that lead narrows to 0.9 points with third-party contenders in the mix. Georgia shows a slight Trump advantage of 1.8 points that dips to 1.7 points with third-party candidates factored in, while Michigan sees Harris with a 2.9-point lead, shrinking to 1.8 with those candidates.
In Nevada, Harris leads by 0.4 points until the introduction of third-party candidates pushes Trump ahead by 0.8 points. North Carolina reflects a similar trend, with Harris leading by 0.2 points, flipping to a 0.7-point lead for Trump when including third-party candidates. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the dynamics shift slightly but still show competitive races.