The Chonkerton

Trump's golden age reality check

politics

The Trump administration came to office promising six percent economic growth—a new "golden age" for America. But the numbers tell a different story. Per Axios, the economy expanded at just one point five percent in the second quarter, down from two point one percent in the first—a pace that roughly matches the long-term trend and falls well short of the five to six percent that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and economist Kevin Hassett had publicly projected. The miss is hitting politically: new polling shows Americans now favor Democrats over Republicans on economic policy for the first time in nearly a decade, a warning sign ahead of the midterms. Economists say the growth rates officials promised would require a productivity surge with no evidence of it emerging.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/gdp-growth-trump-golden-...

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