Bill Murray Asks Trump Economist Kevin Hassett to Say ‘My Dog Just Died’ on CNBC

Actor Bill Murray used a live CNBC interview with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett to ask an unusual question: whether Hassett would say the words “my dog just died” so Murray could watch his expression change. Hassett, who had been smiling, complied and then shifted to a neutral face, according to an account of the Monday morning exchange on “Squawk Box.”

What happened

Murray was on the program to promote “A Course Called Ireland,” a six-part travel and golf docuseries that premiered the previous week. Later in the broadcast, host Joe Kernen invited him to question Hassett.

Murray said he would regret passing up the chance, then made his request: say the words, and he wanted to see what happened to Hassett’s smile. Hassett, still smiling, asked whether it was Murray’s dog or his own. Murray said it was Hassett’s. Hassett said the line, then adopted a more neutral expression.

Murray then joked that someone had been scheduled to draw Hassett’s blood and that the plan was being called off.

After the exchange, Kernen asked Hassett for his favorite Bill Murray film. Hassett named “Groundhog Day,” calling it fantastic and one of the top five movies ever made. Murray said other political figures likely share that view, recalling that former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno told him she showed the film to everyone at the Justice Department as a description of their jobs.

Hassett connected the film’s premise — waking up to the same day — to midterm elections, saying each cycle brings mutual anger and a sense that either side could win.

Fox News Digital said it sought comment from the White House and Murray’s representative and did not immediately receive a response.

Why it matters

The segment is a light television moment rather than a policy event. It put a senior White House economic official in an unscripted exchange with a comedian on a business news program, and it produced no statement about the economy or administration policy.

This suggests the clip will circulate mainly as entertainment and political-color content. It does not indicate any change in the administration’s economic agenda or in Hassett’s role.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• If you follow markets or policy, treat this as a media moment, not a signal about economic policy. No policy content came out of the exchange.
• If you see the clip online, the core of it is the requested line and Hassett’s reaction; the rest of the segment was film talk and an election analogy.
• No practical action follows from this story. It is a brief cultural and political footnote.

Frequently asked questions

What did Bill Murray ask Kevin Hassett to say?

He asked Hassett to say “my dog just died” so Murray could see what happened to his smile. Hassett asked whose dog it was, then said the line.

Why was Bill Murray on CNBC?

He was promoting “A Course Called Ireland,” a six-part travel and golf docuseries that premiered the week before.

What is Kevin Hassett’s role?

He is director of the National Economic Council, a White House office that advises the president on economic policy.

What is “Groundhog Day” about, and why did it come up?

The film follows a man who relives the same day repeatedly. Hassett named it as his favorite Murray movie and compared its premise to the repetitive feel of election cycles.

What to watch next

It is not yet known whether the White House or Murray’s representative will comment on the exchange. Any response would be the next development in the story.