The U.S. Economy Under Trump: The Good, The Mad, and The Ugly
The U.S. Economy Under Trump: The Good, The Mad, and The Ugly In early August 2025, conflicting signals about the U.S. economy revealed a picture far more volatile than what President Trump portrays. While his administration claims “booming growth,” inflation is persistent and job creation is faltering. Recent economic data—summed up as good, mad, and ugly—paints a chaotic backdrop to Trump’s aggressive trade and fiscal policies. 1. 📈 The “Good”: GDP Growth That Masks Fragility In the second quarter of 2025, the U.S. saw a sharp rebound in GDP—around 3 percent growth , following a decline in Q1. But this surge is deceptive. Over the first half of the year, the economy expanded by just 1.2 percent , a modest pace overshadowed by declining private-sector investment and erratic trade patterns The Guardian +1 FactCheck.org +1 . Private business investment dropped sharply , signaling waning confidence among firms The Guardian . Tariff-driven swings in import activity artif...