President Donald Trump says he has turned the corner on rising costs and economic uncertainty, declaring that he “fixed” the affordability crisis. The Prez’s comments came during a recent interview, where he defended his record and insisted that the country has now entered what he calls the “Trump Economy.”
Donald Trump talks about economy and affordability crisis
Speaking with NBC News in an interview taped at the White House and aired ahead of the Super Bowl, Donald Trump presented an optimistic view of the current economic scene. “The one thing that they don’t say anymore is ‘affordability,’ because I fixed the problem that they created,” he quipped. The President asserted that the country’s issue is solved and that, hence, “I’m very proud of it.”
Trump pointed to specific figures to bolster his claim, stating, “You know we have a GDP of 5.6 [percent].” This number, however, appears contested. While the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model did briefly project high fourth-quarter growth, it has since been revised down. Consulting firm EY projects 2025 annual GDP growth at 2.3 percent, noting consumer spending remains “heavily reliant” on borrowing and savings drawdowns.
Furthermore, the 79-year-old framed his economic narrative around major investments he claims to have secured. “You know, we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country, actually trillions,” he said. “$18 trillion being invested in our country as we speak.” This $18 trillion figure has been widely questioned. The conservative Cato Institute labeled it a hoax, with economist Alan Reynolds noting no administration economist has explained what the number measures or how it was calculated.
While Donald Trump claims economic success, other metrics paint a different picture of affordability. Household debt has hit a record high under his administration, surpassing pandemic levels. Planned layoffs have also reached their highest level in January since the Great Recession. A recent Pew Research Center survey found public concern: 71% of Americans are “very concerned” about healthcare costs, and 66% are “very concerned” about food and consumer goods prices.
