Donald Trump said Tuesday night that the federal minimum wage must be raised, and promised to implement a $10 per hour wage if elected president.
“I would say $10,” Trump told Fox News host Bill O’Reilly when asked about the specific figure he would recommend. “But with the understanding that somebody like me is going to bring back jobs. I don’t want people to be in the $10 dollar category very long. I believe it should be raised.”
It was the first time the Republican nominee has offered a concrete number. The amount is not the highest recommended figure, although it’s lower than the $12 supported by Hillary Clinton, and the $15 that Bernie Sanders supports.
Trump named the number after Sanders told attendees at the Democratic convention last night the GOP nominee wanted to lower the minimum wage.
“[W]hen Bernie Sanders said I wanna go less than what the minimum wage is, I mean honestly these people are lying,” Trump said.
The billionaire businessman said he would use the federal wage as a base and encourage states to implement their own minimum wage that is higher than the $10 figure. But he also said some states need higher wages while others do not.
“If you take New York, it’s very expensive to live in New York,” Trump said.
Trump has had varying responses when asked if the minimum wage should be hiked. In a debate last fall, Trump said wages are “too high” when asked if a hike was needed.
