Bill Murray Interrupts Kevin Hassett on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’

By Tom Whitfield

On Monday, actor and comedian Bill Murray joined CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and asked Kevin Hassett, Trump’s top economic adviser and National Economic Council director, to say “My dog just died.”

CNBC’s hosts Joe Kernan and Becky Quick took part in the studio segment, while Hassett appeared by video. Murray inserted himself into their interview about the state of the economy. After Kernan introduced him, Murray said: “I would regret it if I didn’t take this opportunity.”

Murray then said: “Could you just say the words, ‘My dog just died?’ I want to see what happens to your smile.” He made Hassett’s grin the target, not his economic record.

Hassett asked, “Oh, well, is it your dog or my dog?” Murray replied, “Your dog.” Hassett then said, “OK. My dog just died,” without smiling. Kernan exclaimed, “You did it!”

Murray continued: “We were gonna have someone go take your blood. We’re gonna call them off. Not gonna happen.” The account supplied no context for the blood remark. Whatever its intent, the exchange did not become a policy discussion.

The request came after Hassett had called the U.S. “affordability crisis” a “myth.” In a Fox Business interview with Larry Kudlow, reported by Mediaite, he said the claim was being promoted by “Trump-haters.” He put a number behind his argument.

Hassett’s stated case was numerical. He told Kudlow: “The amount of consumption per household has gone up maybe around $5,000 per household.”

Hassett said: “That’s after inflation, because of the income boom, the capital spending boom, the fact that people aren’t losing your jobs,” before adding: “all the things that have made the economy great means that [the] affordability crisis — it’s a myth!”

Hassett did not identify a time period, household breakdown or price comparison in the quoted remarks. The $5,000 figure therefore does not, on its own, show what households can afford at current prices.

CNBC’s broadcast placed Murray in its studios after an earlier Monday appearance with author Tom Coyne. They discussed “A Course Called Ireland,” a six-part travel and golf docuseries on Paramount+. Murray stars in it, and it is based on Coyne’s 2009 book of the same name. That appearance explained Murray’s presence but added no evidence for Hassett’s argument.

What does this change for household costs?

Nothing on the evidence shown. Hassett cited higher consumption, an income boom, capital spending and people not losing their jobs. Murray tested a smile, and Hassett delivered the requested line. Neither supplied household price data or examined the limits of the figure.

For viewers weighing costs, the useful test is the evidence behind the roughly $5,000 increase and the conditions behind it. The exchange established only that Hassett could say “My dog just died” without smiling; household affordability still requires evidence for the roughly $5,000 claim.