CNN reporter lectures Trump supporter, ship owner, he shouldn’t complain about the economy

A CNN reporter clashed with a supporter of former President Trump over whether he should have concerns about the economy in an interview with CNN that aired on the liberal network Wednesday.

CNN’s Elle Reeve interviewed Trump supporters at a MAGA boat parade in Panama City, Florida about their most important issues heading into the 2024 election.

At one point, she got into a heated argument with Trump supporter Joe Harner because he said the economy was his number one concern, telling Reeve that everything was “too expensive.”

She called out to lecture him who thought this way.

“Let me ask a slightly rude question. But you know, if you can afford a boat, you’re not hurting that bad, right?” Reeve asked.

“Because a boat costs a lot of money and it’s a lot of maintenance.”

“Listen, nobody gave it to me!” Harner replied.

“I have earned everything I have. I’m retired military, retired power planter, and I’m successful and retired on boats and skis because I did it right, and everyone has that opportunity. Whether they choose or not is up to them.”

“I would never try to take anything from you that way,” Reeve replied.

“But what I’m asking is that groceries are probably a smaller part of your budget than, say, someone who’s a little worse off.”

“I think it’s interesting that people who are a little bit more comfortable are still so worried about the economy. Do you see what I’m saying?” she continued.

“Because I want my money to go further,” he said.

“I want inflation to decrease. I want interest rates to go down again. I love all of that, but that covers everyone in the economy. Not just me, not just the poor, not just the rich, it covers everyone.”

After Reeve asked Harner if he was worried about his kids not being able to afford a house or a car, he said he wasn’t worried about that.

“I coach my kids and I teach my kids the right way. They have great education and both are successful in their careers. In fact, they are doing better than me,” he revealed.

Although the inflation rate has slowed to 2.5% as of August 2024, Americans’ budgets are still stretched due to price increases that have occurred in recent years.

Compared to four years ago, in August 2020, when the country was in the middle of the pandemic and before inflation accelerated, prices have increased by only 21%, according to FOX Business calculations.

Overall, food prices have increased by about 22.8% in the last four years.

To perhaps the man in the interview’s delight, however, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a point this week, marking the first cut in four years.

Eric Revell of Fox Business contributed to this report.