Trump: I Coined The Phrase “Prime The Pump”

May 11, 2017 Crackpots, Trump Lies

The New York Times reports:

President Trump recently sat for a long interview with The Economist magazine in which he discussed his economic agenda.

One exchange was particularly attention-grabbing for anyone who could remember high school history, or had paid vague attention to the debates over stimulus during the last recession.

Explaining why he seeks tax cuts even if they risk expanding the budget deficit, President Trump said that they might increase the deficit temporarily, but that “we have to prime the pump.”

“Have you heard that expression before, for this type of event?” the president said. Yes, the interviewer — who, again, is an editor of The Economist — confirmed.

“Have you heard that expression used before? Because I haven’t heard it. I mean, I just … I came up with it a couple of days ago and thought it was good.” Hoo boy.

Jonah Goldberg reacts at the National Review:

Now, where to begin? It would be a bit dismaying if the president of the United States, who prides himself as something of an expert on matters economic, had never heard the expression “prime the pump” before, never mind believed he coined it. The phrase has been a standard Keynesian refrain for nearly a century.

But fear not. Donald Trump has heard the phrase before – from his own lips. For instance, he used the phrase with Time magazine last year. So, I’m honestly curious. What is the right way to interpret Trump’s statement that he coined the phrase “prime the pump” a few days ago?

Did he forget? Was he playing a game with the editors of The Economist? If so, what possible benefit would he get? I’m really interested in knowing what the best possible explanation could be?

Mother Jones has an idea.



Tags

© joemygod.com 2024