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President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow has denied the existence of systematic racism. Kudlow, responding to a reporter’s question Wednesday on whether he believes systematic racism exists in the US answered, ‘I do not.’ He repeated his answer twice when the reported pressed him on his answer which comes as thousands have marched …
President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow has denied the existence of systematic racism.
Kudlow, responding to a reporter’s question Wednesday on whether he believes systematic racism exists in the US answered, ‘I do not.’
He repeated his answer twice when the reported pressed him on his answer which comes as thousands have marched in protest across the US against police brutality in the wake of the cop-related slaying of George Floyd on Memorial Day in Minneapolis.
‘I will say it again. I do not,’ Kudlow told the reporter in footage taken of the Q&A. ‘I think the harm comes when you have some very bad apples on the law enforcement side.
However, Kudlow then acknowledged the police-related slaying of George Floyd on Memorial Day, reports CNN.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black father-of-two was killed by police in Minneapolis during an arrest caught on video by a bystander. The footage has sparked three weeks of demonstrations that many say have helped shine a light on systematic racism in the US.
Floyd was alleged to have passed a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes when Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, pressed down on the man’s neck with his knee for almost 9 minutes, causing his death.
‘What was done to Mr. Floyd was abysmal. Abysmal,’ Kudlow tells the reporter who questioned him. ‘I believe that everyone in this country agrees with that.’
Kudlow, 72, is director of the United States National Economic Council. He’s held the position since 2018, since taking over for Gary Cohn.
Prior to politics, Kudlow had been an economics commentator for the National Review and also was host on several shows for CNBC.
Kudlow also drew attention in a previous unrelated comment where he said that even though the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 will be worse than the first, he believes the ‘worst is nearly over’ of economic depression from coronavirus.
‘That gives me hope that working cooperatively we can get through this,’ he told CNBC in an interview May 1.
‘I believe – yes, I am an optimist, always – I believe we can get through this. I believe the worst is nearly over. I hope and pray that that is the case. And I think as this infection rate comes down, it’s an omen that America is not far from getting to the other side,’ he explained.
Kudlow drew attention in a previous unrelated comment where he said that even though the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 will be worse than the first, the ‘worst is nearly over’ of economic depression from coronavirus. He is pictured alongside President Donald Trump
He also admitted that the economy would continue to suffer as the pandemic entered another month.
‘You probably saw in the GDP, a 13 per cent saving rate in the first quarter. That’s a remarkable number, that just shows you there’s pent up demand up there. The second quarter’s going to be worse numbers, no question about it,’ Kudlow said.
He made this claim as more than 30 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits at the time – meaning that at least 4 per cent of Americans are unemployed.
