Trump Uncertain on Minimum Wage Proposal
President Trump has expressed uncertainty regarding a new initiative led by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
“I’ve never seen it. I need to talk to Josh. He’s a very good friend of mine,” Trump stated during a press briefing from the Oval Office when asked about his stance on the proposal. “It’s interesting that Josh did that. You need to think about it.”
Along with Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Hawley recently introduced the American Workers Act, which aims to raise the minimum wage significantly—from $7.25 an hour to $15.00.
Currently, over 31 states have set minimum wages that exceed the federal standard, including Missouri, which is Hawley’s home state.
“Some people agree. Some people don’t,” Trump noted while speaking with a reporter. “You know, some say it could affect businesses—restaurants, clothing stores, lots of things. Others have a different perspective. I’ve got to talk to Josh; he’s a good guy.”
Hawley has presented the wage increase as a measure of “populist status.”
“If we’re going to be a workers’ party, we have to do something for the people who work,” the senator told NBC News shortly after introducing the bill. “The workforce hasn’t had a pay raise in years, so a raise is necessary.”
Hawley’s support for the minimum wage increase aligns with other efforts he has made to advocate for economic populism.
Earlier this year, Hawley collaborated with progressive Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to propose legislation aimed at capping credit card interest rates at 10%.
On Tuesday, Hawley voiced his support alongside progressives like Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sanders against a significant portion of Republicans who opposed regulations in the cryptocurrency market.
The Hawley office did not provide any comments regarding the current story.
