Donald Trump Mocked Over Answer to Child Care Question—'Towering Stupidity'

Donald Trump has been mocked online for giving a rambling answer on child care during a campaign event in New York on Thursday, with one House Democrat calling the reply "towering stupidity."

The former president was asked at the Economic Club of New York, "If you win in November can you commit to prioritizing legislation to make child care affordable and if so what specific piece of legislation will you advance?"

Donald Trump's answer on how he will make childcare more affordable: pic.twitter.com/Hwu7R5aIt6 — Acyn (@Acyn) September 5, 2024

Trump responded: "I would do that and we're sitting down. I was somebody we had Senator Marco Rubio and my daughter Ivanka was so impactful on that issue. It's a very important issue.

"But I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I'm talking about because child care is child care, you have to have it in this country, you have to have it. But when you talk about those numbers compared to the type of numbers I'm talking about by taxing foreign nations at levels that they're not used to, but they'll get used to it very quickly.

"And it's not going to stop them doing business with us, but they will have a very substantial tax when they send product into our country. Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we're talking about including child care. I look forward to having no deficits within a fairly short period of time coupled with the reductions that I told you about on waste and fraud."

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump addresses the Economic Club of New York on September 5, 2024, in New York City. Trump came under fire on social media after giving a rambling answer on... Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump addresses the Economic Club of New York on September 5, 2024, in New York City. Trump came under fire on social media after giving a rambling answer on child care costs. More Spencer Platt/GETTY

Regarding child care, the Republican presidential nominee went on to claim that "those numbers are small relative to the kind of economic numbers that I'm talking about including growth." He later added: "We're going to make this into an incredible country that can afford to take care of its people and then we'll worry about the rest of the world."

A two-minute clip covering Trump's comments was shared on X by the "Acyn" account, which shares footage from American politics, where it went viral, picking up more than 10 million views.

This clip was shared by House Democrat Sean Casten who added: "Towering stupidity. The people listening know it. The people around him know it. Word salad, not even pretending to have a single coherent idea. Vote for smart people."

Towering stupidity. The people listening know it. The people around him know it. Word salad, not even pretending to have a single coherent idea. Vote for smart people. https://t.co/dqZCjsb3p9 — Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) September 6, 2024

The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump conservative group, wrote: "This is him after weeks of debate prep by the way."

Maria Cardona, a Democratic political strategist and CNN commentator, also shared the footage adding: "Ummm, wut?"

Peter Henlein, a self-styled "political junkie" from Florida, wrote: "Trump is asked how he'll make childcare affordable. His rambling, nonsensical response is embarrassing. And ultimately Trump does kind of arrive at an answer to the question. It's tariffs. This isn't conservative. Or common sense."

Trump is asked how he'll make childcare affordable. His rambling, nonsensical response is embarrassing.

And ultimately Trump does kind of arrive at an answer to the question.

This isn't conservative. Or common sense.

pic.twitter.com/TQ1y1kBBLx — Peter Henlein (@SwissWatchGuy) September 5, 2024

Another X user commented: "This is not The Weave. This is a physical assault on the English language.

"To this day, after doing business with this man, I am still dismayed about the most underreported story about this nincompoop. He is legitimately illiterate."

However, not all social media users were critical, with a number praising Trump for answering questions, pointing out that Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has largely avoided unscripted interviews during her campaign.

Referring to Trump, one X user said: "At least he's brave enough to enter the lion's den and answer tough questions."

A second commented: "Was Harris taking questions? How did she answer?"

Another use offered a more comprehensive defense, commenting: "The answer is so obvious, and your characterization is laughable. Trump basically explained that childcare is cheap compared to how much money he plans on turning in."

Newsweek contacted Donald Trump's 2024 presidential election campaign for comment via email on Friday outside of regular business hours.

During her campaign, Harris has announced plans to increase child tax credit from $2,000 per child to $3,600 if she wins in November, with a bumper $6,000 tax credit for parents during the first year of a child's life. The plan would cost around $1.6 trillion over a 10-year period, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation think tank.

While Trump has been less specific in his child care plans, his running mate, Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance, argued the government should make it easier for a family member to stay home to look after children during a conversation with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

The senator said: "Maybe grandma or grandpa wants to help out a little bit more, or maybe there's an aunt or uncle that wants to help out a little bit more. If that happens, you relieve some of the pressure on all the resources that we're spending on day care."