Danes Hit Trump Back After White House’s Economic Study Criticizing Socialism

Following President Trump’s White House release of a highly politicized report criticizing socialism and the economic policies used in Scandinavia, the conservative Danish Prime Minister and the progressive Social Democrats hit back at ‘The Opportunity Costs of Socialism” report by the Council of Economic Advisers.

In the report, the authors wrote that living standards in Denmark, as well as other Nordic countries, were lower or stagnant than those of the United States. However, the country’s center-right prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said on Tuesday, October 30, in a Facebook post that Denmark ” would win every time” in a competition with the U.S.” when it comes to education, healthcare, and other living standards.

Rasmussen also said that higher tax rates in the Nordic countries get so much in return when it comes to providing basic public services. That same day, Dan Jorgensen, a former member of parliament for the Social Democratic Party called Trump’s claims about Denmark “fake news” in a viral Facebook video that has more than 500,000 views.

This is not the first time Danish politicians like Jorgensen had to fight back against criticisms of Nordic economics being deemed as “socialist”. In August 2018, Jorgensen and the Social Democrats made a video on Facebook that criticized Fox News anchor Trish Regan’s views on Denmark comparing its economic policies to Venezuela’s failing economy under its president, Nicolas Maduro.

Countries like Denmark have been increasing in global rankings when it comes to combating economic inequality, promoting business, social progress, secular irreligious belief, healthcare, education, and overall happiness.