Kevin Hassett Dismisses Negative Economic Polls Ahead of Midterms

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that he does not trust recent polls indicating widespread public pessimism about the U.S. economy. He argued that if consumer sentiment were truly depressed, retail sales data would reflect a downturn, which he says is not the case.

The Hill

Hassett’s remarks come as Republicans confront several political headwinds before the 2024 midterm elections, including criticism of the United States’ involvement in the Iran-related conflict that has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has kept gasoline prices above $4 per gallon, with the American Automobile Association reporting an average regular-gas price of $4.37 on Sunday morning.

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• A Quinnipiac University poll found 62 % of respondents disapproved of President Trump’s handling of the economy.

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• An Associated Press/NORC poll showed 65 % of respondents blamed the president’s policies for high prices and said the national economy had worsened since his return to office.

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• Decision Desk HQ’s polling average placed President Trump’s overall approval rating at 38.5 % on Sunday morning.

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Hassett contended that partisan pollsters may exaggerate economic gloom to benefit Democrats, emphasizing that retail performance contradicts the narrative of a depressed consumer base.

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• “Ahead of an election cycle, the fact that there’s, you know, possibly partisan pollsters telling us that the people are really really depressed, it’s a classic Democrat move, and I just don’t buy it,” — Kevin Hassett

The Hill