Trump tells CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil ‘you probably wouldn’t have a job’ if Kamala Harris had won
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump sat for an interview with CBS 'Evening News' anchor Tony Dokoupil on Tuesday that covered a wide range of topics, from the economy and inflation to the controversial fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good and the 2024 election.
One of the more unusual moments of the interview came when the president spoke about what would have happened if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election.
Trump claims Kamala Harris wrecked economy
In one of the more striking moments of the interview, Trump told Dokoupil that he “wouldn’t have a job right now” if Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election, implying that the anchor owed his position to Trump’s political victory.
Missed Donald Trump’s ridiculous CBS interview with Tony Dokoupil? We’ve got you covered.
— Zeteo (@zeteo_news) January 14, 2026
Watch the lowlights in this two-minute video. Subscribe to Zeteo for more. pic.twitter.com/qaJfsw0rbx
The exchange underscored Trump’s belief that his administration’s policies have been broadly beneficial and that media figures are shaped by the political landscape rather than operating as independent professionals.
“You wouldn’t have a job right now, if she got in. You probably wouldn’t have a job right now,” Trump told Dokoupil during the interview, which was conducted on the floor of a Ford plant in Detroit.
The president also said that Harris would have continued what he called a ‘mess’ of an economy under Joe Biden.
Trump pushes back on inflation, ICE criticism
Trump pushed back on criticism of his economic record.
He said “there’s no inflation,” and later said that he had them “down to a level that they haven’t seen in about nine years.” “I’ve only been here for 11 months, okay,” Trump responded, before saying that he “inherited a mess” and that “we have now the hottest country in the world.”
DOKOUPIL: The CEO of Ford said he's got 5,000 open mechanic job. He can't find people
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 13, 2026
TRUMP: That's a good thing, Tony. That means it's vibrant. You're gonna have a thing called robots. pic.twitter.com/oeJfepGcNF
Responding to Trump’s assertion that he wouldn’t have his job if Kamala Harris came to power, Dokoupil replied, “I do think I’d have this job even if the other guy won."
“Yeah, but at a lesser salary,” Trump responded.
When Dokoupil brought up the shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, a moment that has sparked heated immigration debates, Trump said he felt for Good’s family but stood by the government.
He called Good “probably a wonderful person,” yet described what she did as “pretty tough,” sticking closely to how his administration has discussed the case.
🚨OH - MY - GOD: This exchange between CBS's Tony Dokoupil and Trump about the death of Renee Nicole Good is absolutely INSANE.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) January 14, 2026
What a heartless, cruel POS.
DOKOUPIL: I've been speaking to her father, who is a big supporter of yours...
TRUMP: Good.
DOKOUPIL: He's heartbroken… pic.twitter.com/DFK139ZFBS
Trump then went on to defend ICE and blast Joe Biden before returning to the video of Good’s killing and acknowledging that the footage is open to interpretation.