Bill Murray Asks Trump’s Top Economic Adviser to Say ‘My Dog Just Died’ to Wipe Smile Off His Face in Bizarre Exchange on CNBC

Actor and comedian Bill Murray apparently had had enough of the grinning mug of Kevin Hassett, Trump’s top economic adviser, in a weird impromptu exchange on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” program.

Murray unexpectedly inserted himself into a CNBC interview Monday between “Squawk Box” hosts Joe Kernan and Becky Quick and Hassett, who serves as National Economic Council director, in a segment about the state of the economy. In the middle of the interview, Murray appeared next to the show’s hosts and asked Hassett (who appeared on camera remotely) to say the words, “My dog just died.”

Murray, after being introduced by Kernan, said that “I would regret it if I didn’t take this opportunity.” He then asked Hassett, who has called the affordability crisis in the U.S. a “myth”: “Could you just say the words, ‘My dog just died?’ I want to see what happens to your smile.”

Hassett queried, “Oh, well, is it your dog or my dog?” “Your dog,” Murray said. “OK. My dog just died,” Hassett said, without smiling. “You did it!” exclaimed Kernan.

Murray then told Hassett, “We were gonna have someone go take your blood. We’re gonna call them off. Not gonna happen.”

Murray was in CNBC’s studios after he had appeared on “Squawk Box” earlier Monday for an interview together with author Tom Coyne about “A Course Called Ireland,” a six-part travel and golf docuseries on Paramount+ he stars in that’s based Coyne’s 2009 book of the same name.

Hassett was in the news last week when he called the “affordability crisis” in the U.S. a “myth” that was being promoted by Trump-haters. ”The amount of consumption per household has gone up maybe around $5,000 per household,” Hassett told Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow, per Mediaite. “That’s after inflation, because of the income boom, the capital spending boom, the fact that people aren’t losing their jobs, all the things that have made the economy great means that [the] affordability crisis — it’ a myth!”

Watch the exchange between Murray and Hassett:

BILL MURRAY: Could you just say the words, 'My dog just died.' I want to see what happens to your smile

HASSETT: Well is it your dog, or my dog?

MURRAY: Your dog

HASSETT: Okay. My dog just died 😕 pic.twitter.com/pEvyMwzK9e

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 2, 2026