By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump said the United States is already experiencing what he described as the “Trump economy,” expressing confidence in his administration’s economic record even as public opinion remains divided on the state of the nation’s finances.
Speaking in a Super Bowl interview with anchor Tom Llamas, Trump was asked when he believes the country transitioned into his economic era. “I’d say we’re there now,” he said. “I’m very proud of it.”
Trump’s comments come as many Americans remain dissatisfied with the economy, according to recent polling, and as the president ramps up a high-profile campaign-style push to sell his economic message in key political battlegrounds ahead of the November midterm elections. Economic concerns—especially inflation and cost-of-living pressures—have been central to recent political debates and electoral outcomes.
A recent NPR/Marist/PBS News survey found that only 36% of adults approve of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 59% disapprove. In last year’s off-year elections, Democrats successfully emphasized “affordability” issues in states such as Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, helping them secure key victories.
In the Oval Office interview, which was recorded earlier in the week, Trump argued that the economy is performing strongly and suggested Democrats are moving away from the affordability message because conditions are improving. He also placed blame for persistent price pressures on his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
“In the last four days, the Democrats have not uttered the word ‘affordability,’” Trump said. “They’re the ones that caused the problem. I took over a mess in every way.”
Trump cited economic growth figures that are not fully supported by official government data, claiming the gross domestic product has grown by 5.6% during his presidency. According to the U.S. Labor Department, the economy expanded at an annualized rate of 4.4% in the third quarter of 2025, and it has not exceeded 5% growth in any quarter since 2021, when the economy was rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy also contracted in the first quarter of 2025, partly due to uncertainty surrounding trade and tariff policies that Trump later announced, which had ripple effects across the global economy.
Government data for the fourth quarter of last year has not yet been released because of a government shutdown, but the president appeared to be referencing a projection from the Atlanta Federal Reserve, which estimated growth as high as 5.4%, according to a White House official. Still, most forecasts place the growth rate lower.
Trump also predicted that economic conditions would continue to improve, saying 2026 would be even stronger. He claimed that trillions of dollars are flowing into the United States through foreign and domestic investments, with factories, plants, and businesses being built across the country. However, even the White House’s own estimates put pledged investment closer to $9.6 trillion, and independent analyses suggest the figure may be overstated.
When asked whether foreign companies would begin opening new facilities in the U.S. before his term ends in January 2029, Trump said many projects would come online within the next year to year and a half.
The president has consistently sought to frame economic successes as the result of his leadership while attributing negative indicators to the previous administration. In a prior interview last year, he said the “good parts” of the economy were his, while the “bad parts” belonged to Biden.
As the midterms approach, the economy is expected to remain one of the defining issues shaping voter attitudes and political messaging across both parties.
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