Yes, you heard that right. And not by a narrow margin—Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley wants to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. And guess what? He has a Democrat signing on for this mission.
It’s the Higher Wages for American Workers Act and would, if passed, raise the federal minimum wage to twice its current rate of $7.25. Sounds ambitious, doesn’t it? Well, it is—especially coming from a GOP senator.
But things get even more interesting here: When asked about it by former President Donald Trump… he wasn’t too keen on it.
Trump’s take? “I haven’t seen.”
Addressing the Oval Office, Trump was outright asked if he liked Hawley’s proposal. His response? Typical Trump pause and diversion:
“I haven’t seen it. I’d have to talk to Josh. He’s a very good friend of mine. Interestingly, Josh did that. You have to think about that one.”
So, not “yes” nor “no”—rather, “Gee, that’s new to me.”
Trump went on to utter the usual platitudes politicians use when they don’t want to make a promise. That folks are divided over raising the wage, that it might hurt restaurants or small businesses, and that it’s something to be considered.
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How Hawley’s action turned heads
Let’s be real: minimum wage hikes are usually a Democrat talking point. But Hawley is trying to change that.
He’s presenting this $15 wage as a part of a populist economic agenda—one that prioritizes working people. He said to NBC News:
“If we’re going to be a working people’s party, we have to do something for working people. And working people haven’t gotten a raise in years.”
For Hawley, this is not out of left field. It’s a theme. He has been introducing bills that sound like Bernie Sanders, like joining him back in the spring to try to cap credit card interest at 10%.
And this week, he voted AGAINST crypto regulations—in line with the progressives against most of his party. So yeah, he’s zagging where most Republicans are zigging.
Trump and Hawley: Still friends?
Even as Trump fiddled with the minimum wage bill, he made it unequivocal that there is no beef between him and Hawley. He called him a “good guy” and a “very good friend.” But palship doesn’t necessarily mean policy support.
It’s also notable that Trump himself has dabbled in raising the minimum wage in the past. During his campaign in 2020, he suggested that he might raise it (though only a modest increase at that). But $15? That might be a bit too expensive for his brand of Republican politics—especially considering that some businesspeople (one of Trump’s main constituencies) might not exactly see it as a good thing.
So. will Trump support it?
Currently, Trump appears to be playing the waiting game. He intends to speak with Hawley first, perhaps gauge how the Republican base will respond, and then make a decision. That’s Trump-style—dip your toe in the water before taking the plunge.
Bottom line: this has the potential to be a huge battle within the GOP. Hawley is pushing a more worker-focused agenda, and Trump is staying on the sidelines. But if this gains traction with voters — especially the working-class voters both men are courting—don’t be surprised if Trump gets on board with the idea just like that.
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Stay tuned. This one’s just heating up.
