FOX Presses Trump on Possible Recession

Summary

Bulwark Takes: FOX Presses Trump on Possible Recession

Host: Tim Miller
Release Date: March 9, 2025

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosted by Tim Miller, the discussion centers around Maria Bartiromo's recent probing of former President Donald Trump regarding the looming possibility of a recession. The episode delves into the intricacies of the current economic climate, media narratives, and political maneuvering within conservative circles.

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Maria Bartiromo’s Economic Concerns

Maria Bartiromo, a prominent figure in conservative media, has taken an unexpected stance by raising alarm bells about the potential economic downturn. Initially known for her strong support of former President Trump, Bartiromo has shifted gears, expressing genuine concerns about the state of the economy.

At [01:39], Bartiromo emphasizes the risks associated with government spending cuts:
"About all of these spending cuts potentially leading to a recession. Now there's new growth worries."

She references the Atlanta Federal Reserve's projection of a contraction in the first quarter and challenges the notion that reduced government spending alone would trigger a recession, stating:
"Can Doge induce a recession? No, it can't. ... I said earlier it would be Biden's recession." [01:55]

This pivot marks a significant departure from her previous unwavering support of Trump, signaling a nuanced perspective amidst growing economic uncertainties.

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Trump’s Evasive Responses

During her interview with Trump, Bartiromo seeks clarity on whether a recession is imminent. At [03:10], she directly asks:
"Are you expecting a recession this year?"

Trump’s response is notably cautious and lacks his typical assertiveness:
"I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America. That's a big thing. ... I don't think it should be great for us. I mean, I think it should be great." [03:24]

This answer deviates from Trump's usual economic bravado, suggesting underlying concerns about the current trajectory of the economy.

In a subsequent exchange about the stock market, Bartiromo presses further:
"Look, we're going to have a disruption, but we're okay with that. Is that what you meant? The stock market going down was the disruption? What other disruption were you alluding to?" [04:43]

Trump responds by contrasting American and Chinese economic perspectives:
"Look, what I have to do is build a strong country. You can't really watch the stock market. If you look at China, they have a 100 year perspective. We have a quarter, we go by quarters." [04:54]

His remarks hint at long-term strategies overshadowed by immediate economic challenges, though they lack concrete assurances.

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Tim Miller’s Analysis

Tim Miller critically examines Bartiromo's shift and Trump's subdued responses. He notes Bartiromo’s willingness to question the prevailing optimistic narratives within the MAGA-aligned media landscape:
"Maria Barrett Romo surprises abound in Donald Trump's America." [05:14]

Miller highlights the incongruity between Trump's usual dismissive rhetoric and his current inability to confidently project economic stability:
"This is someone that is flailing. This is someone that is very concerned that the market is going down, that he doesn't have any levers to pull." [03:47]

He also points out the irony in Trump’s comparison of American economic strategy to China's long-term planning, labeling it as "preposterous" given Trump's reputation for favoring immediate results.

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Key Takeaways and Implications

• Media Dynamics: Bartiromo’s stance indicates increasing diversity of thought within conservative media regarding economic policies and their potential fallout.

• Economic Uncertainty: The discussions reflect a broader unease about the sustainability of current economic strategies, especially in light of market volatility and global economic pressures.

• Political Ramifications: Trump's inability to maintain his characteristic economic optimism may signal vulnerabilities within his support base and broader political implications for conservative leadership.

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This episode of Bulwark Takes offers a compelling look into the shifting narratives within conservative media and political discourse, highlighting the complexities of managing economic perceptions amidst real and perceived challenges.

Transcript

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[Tim Miller]

Hey guys, it's Tim. Oh, from the Bulwark. There's been a surprising person that has been blinking a flashing red light warning people in the Fox News MAGA conservative media industrial complex that things aren't as good as they might want them to be, particularly when it comes to the economy. That person is Maria Bart Romo. Maria, who lost her mind during 2020 and was one of the bigger pushers of the big lie after Donald Trump lost, seems to still have at least a partial, partial keyword here, partial contact with reality, based on some of the interviews that she's been doing over the past few days. She spoke to Donald Trump this morning and asked about the recession. But but here's a couple of clips of Maria earlier in the week worried.

[Maria Bartiromo]

About all of these spending cuts potentially leading to a recession. Now there's new growth worries. As you know, markets were down sharply yesterday on the tariffs and on this idea that all this cuts happening could in fact induce a recession. Now we're expecting a contraction in the first quarter. You know, I mean, Joel Lindsey Group came out with a report a couple of weeks ago that I've mentioned a few times. Can Doge induce a recession? No, it can't. Okay. You're not going to get a recession just from Doge. Now there are other things that have happened in this economy with this slowdown, we could see a recession, but it's not going to happen just because they're cutting wasted abuse out of this government. Joel, by the way, that's why I said earlier it would be Biden's recession. And I know the haters out there will slam me later.

[Tim Miller]

Okay, so you see, I mean, you know, she's calling it the Biden recession, which is like, I roll and then, you know, defending yourself. You know, you got to give the, you know, put the cough medicine down with a spoonful of sugar, you know, and the spoonful of sugar is going to be trying to blame dementia Joe, on the economy, which I don't, I just don't think is going to land for anybody that is not a, you know, fully lobotomized MAGA supporter, which is a decent number of them. But there are at least some other ones who have not got the full lobotomy, maybe only the half. So that's Maria warning about the recession, asking congressman about the recession, talking about it on her show. And here she is asking the question directly to Donald Trump because there are.

[Maria Bartiromo]

Rising worries about a slowdown. You've got the Atlanta Federal Reserve saying we're going to have a contraction in the first quarter. Look, I know that you inherited a mess. And you said that the other day. Are you expecting a recession this year?

[Donald Trump]

I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America. That's a big thing. And there are always periods of. It takes a little time. It takes a little time. But I don't, I think it should be great for us. I mean, I think it should be great.

[Tim Miller]

Not exactly a confident answer there. No. Where is the braggadocio? Where is this is the greatest economy in the world? Where is this is the best? Donald Trump is the best. You're missing a lot of that there. You hate to predict things, but there's a period of transition. Did that come up during the campaign, this period of transition? I guess I remember Elon mentioning something like this once, but I don't remember Trump talking about that. I mean, that is a bearish sign for things. If this is something that Trump doesn't even feel like that he can spin right now. It is reminiscent of, you know, when he started to change his tune on Covid, really. But there was another back and forth in the interview that I think was also interesting.

[Maria Bartiromo]

Before you came into the Oval Office the first time, you were a very successful businessman, very successful real estate executive. And a lot of people said, oh, this is the business president. This is it. He's watching the stock market. He knows all about, you know, he doesn't want the market to go down. And now we've got tariffs and the market has been going down.

[Donald Trump]

Well, not much. I mean, in all fairness, you said.

[Maria Bartiromo]

Look, we're going to have a disruption, but we're okay with that. Is that what you meant? The stock market going down was the disruption? What other disruption were you alluding to?

[Donald Trump]

Look, what I have to do is build a strong country. You can't really watch the stock market. If you look at China, they have 100 year perspective. We have a quarter, we go by quarters.

[Maria Bartiromo]

That's true.

[Donald Trump]

And you can't go by that. You have to do what's right. What we're doing is we're building a tremendous foundation for the future. Tremendous foundation.

[Tim Miller]

Who knows? I guess you don't have to hand it to Maria, but in this case I think you do because she is just asking the direct questions. The market is down and Trump is dismissive. Oh, a little bit. A little bit. And then again tries to go with this spin about how we need to think like China and centuries. I'm sorry, Like Donald Trump is the most instant gratification person in all of our politics. Like if you had, you know, some deep thinker who was running for office talking about how we needed to think about the battle with China in centuries. Okay, okay, I'll listen to that argument that, that we are being unwise to focus on quarter to quarter returns. But for Donald Trump to make that argument, preposterous. This is someone that is flailing. This is someone that is very concerned that the market is going down, that he doesn't have any levers to pull. And it's something we've been talking about on the podcast and it's interesting that. Bleed it into Fox Business World. So there you have it. Maria Barrett Romo. Surprises abound in Donald Trump's America. We appreciate you guys. We'll see you soon.