Actor Bill Murray Stuns Trump's Top Economic Adviser With Bizarre Question on News Show: 'Say My Dog Just Died'
A light moment unfolded on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday when actor Bill Murray asked Kevin Hassett, director of the US National Economic Council, to stop smiling briefly and say a single sentence.
The "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day" actor was on CNBC to promote his new six-part travel and golf docuseries "A Course Called Ireland," which premiered last week.
Later in the programme, host Joe Kernen invited Murray to ask Hassett a question. Murray said he would regret it if he did not take the opportunity, and asked: "Could you just say the words, 'My dog just died?' I want to see what happens to your smile."
Still smiling, Hassett asked in reply whether it was Murray's dog or his own. He then said, "OK. My dog just died," as his facial expression became more neutral.
Murray joked that they were going to have someone take Hassett's blood, but would now call them off and it was not going to happen.
After the exchange, Kernen asked Hassett if he had a favourite Bill Murray movie. Hassett answered that "Groundhog Day" was a "fantastic" film and "one of the top five movies ever made."
Murray then recalled an exchange he had with former US Attorney General Janet Reno about her time at the Department of Justice. He quoted her as saying she showed the movie to everyone at Justice and told them that was what their job was going to be like.
Hassett agreed with the sentiment, likening waking up on the same day repeatedly to polling ahead of the midterm elections. He said that in every election everybody is angry at each other, one side seems likely to win and then the other does, and when Election Day comes it feels like it could go either way.
