President Trump Expresses Uncertainty on Support for Minimum Wage Increase

President Trump indicated he is undecided about backing a recent proposal by Senator Josh Hawley to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. After a reporter’s inquiry, Trump stated, “I haven’t seen it. I’d have to speak with Josh. He’s a good friend of mine. That’s interesting that he did that. You have to think about that.”

The legislation, called the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, was introduced last week in collaboration with Senator Peter Welch. If enacted, it would more than double the current federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Currently, at least 31 states enforce a higher minimum wage than the federal baseline, including Missouri, Hawley’s home state. Trump remarked, “Some people agree with it. Some don’t. It can turn away business, especially in restaurants and retail.” He emphasized he would need to discuss with Hawley before forming a stance.

Hawley describes the wage increase as a “populist position,” emphasizing the importance of supporting working Americans. “If we’re going to be a working people’s party, we must do something for working people,” he told NBC News. “They haven’t received a raise in years, so they deserve one.”

His move to support raising the federal minimum wage marks a shift in his usual stance. Hawley has recently moved toward promoting an economic populist agenda, including partnering with Senator Bernie Sanders earlier this year to introduce legislation capping credit card interest rates at 10%.