Ron Klain says supply chain is a ‘high class problem’ after blaming Trump era for chaos
Conservatives attack Ron Klain as Biden announces ports will work 24/7 to solve backlog
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A senior White House figure has been scorned by conservatives for suggesting that current supply chain issues in the US were an issue only for “high class” Americans.
White House chief of staff Ron Klain on Wednesday retweeted a Harvard professor who wrote that issues in supply and employment were “high class problems”.
“Most of the economic problems we're facing (inflation, supply chains, etc.) are high class problems,” wrote Jason Furman, a professor who previously served as a White House economic adviser under Barack Obama.
“We wouldn't have had them if the unemployment rate was still 10 per cent. We would instead have had a much worse problem”.
It came within hours of Mr Klain writing that supply chain issues were “like many other problems we have inherited” – suggesting that the Trump administration was at fault.
The remarks were ridiculed by conservatives who claimed that supply chain issues were also hurting the poor and middle class.
"Struggling to pay for food, fuel, and housing because of rising prices is not a ‘high class problem,’" wrote Tommy Pigott, the rapid response director for the Republican National Committee, in a tweet.
"Biden is making everyone worse off, but instead of stopping the damage, their strategy is to try to gaslight Americans."
Conservative columnist Derek Hunter also tweeted: “Yep, a lack of truck drivers and the influx of millions of illegal aliens are ‘high class problems’ that only impact the rich.”
“Same thing with the price of steak and gas, they really only impact rich whitey. Shut up and eat your gruel, you don't know how good you have it, loser.”
Addressing issues with supplies on Wednesday, US president Joe Biden said he was working to get the Port of Los Angeles operating around the clock to accommodate a record level of imports – spurred by consumer demand.
A number of chains including Walmart and Target have also vowed to work 24/7 to move goods.
It comes amid a global shortage in workers and supply chains, which have hit China, Vietnam and the UK in recent weeks.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments