Trump tells CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil ‘you probably wouldn’t have a job’ if Kamala Harris had won

Donald Trump told Tony Dokoupil he wouldn’t have a job if Kamala Harris had won in 2024, implying his role depended on Trump’s victory
PUBLISHED JAN 14, 2026
Donald Trump told Tony Dokoupil he’d lack a job if Kamala Harris won and said she would have continued a ‘mess’ economy under Joe Biden (X/@tonydokoupil)
Donald Trump told Tony Dokoupil he’d lack a job if Kamala Harris won and said she would have continued a ‘mess’ economy under Joe Biden (X/@tonydokoupil)

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. 



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.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris debate for the first time during the presidential election campaign at The National Constitution Center on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After earning the Democratic Party nomination following President Joe Biden's decision to leave the race, Harris faced off with Trump in what may be the only debate of the 2024 race for the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris debate for the first time during the presidential election campaign at The National Constitution Center  in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After earning the Democratic Party nomination following Joe Biden's decision to leave the race, Harris faced off with Trump in what may be the only debate of the 2024 race for the White House (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“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.”



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."

Tony Dokoupil has continued to stay absent from 'CBS Monrings' after a week (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Tony Dokoupil has continued to stay absent from 'CBS Monrings' after a week (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“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.



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. 

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