Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he supports a higher minimum wage, but said he thinks the decision should be left to state governments.
{mosads}”I don’t know how people make it on $7.25 an hour. Now, with that being said, I would like to see an increase of some magnitude,” the billionaire said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But I’d rather leave it to the states. Let the states decide.”
He said he wouldn’t support a federal minimum wage “floor.”
“I’d rather have the states go out and do what they have to do,” Trump said. “And the states compete with each other, not only other countries, but they compete with each other.
“So I like the idea of let the states decide, but I think people should get more,” Trump said. “I think they’re out there. They’re working. It is a very low number.”
Trump first expressed willingness to raising the federal minimum wage during an interview on Wednesday.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25, but labor groups have been pushing for it to be raised to $15.
During a November debate, Trump voiced opposition to an increase.
“I hate to say it, but we have to leave it the way it is,” he said at the time. And during a November appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Trump said the current minimum wage is too high and was slowing job growth.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton backs a $12 minimum wage and has supported local attempts to push for $15 per hour; her rival, Bernie Sanders, supports a $15 federal minimum wage.
Republicans at large are against raising that number.