Trump economy trips up naysayers: White House Report Card – Washington Examiner
The article reviews recent developments in the U.S. economy and political actions under President Donald Trump. Despite early criticism from liberals, media, and pollsters over his economic policies involving tax cuts and tariffs, Trump has seen several wins, including favorable trade agreements, a surprising GDP growth spike, and a dip in inflation. However, a poor jobs report and downward revisions of previous employment data sparked controversy, leading Trump to fire the Labor Statistics commissioner.
Other positive moves highlighted include the reinstatement of the presidential physical fitness council, efforts to release Jeffrey Epstein files, campaigns to reduce drug prices, and plans for a new East Wing ballroom.
Two political analysts offer contrasting evaluations: Democratic pollster John Zogby gave the week a D-,noting good GDP growth but weak employment figures and ongoing distractions like the Epstein scandal,which he says overshadow the management’s accomplishments. In contrast, conservative analyst Jed Babbin awarded an A, praising trade deals, strong GDP growth, regulatory rollbacks, and dismissing recession predictions.
the article presents a mixed assessment of the White House’s economic and political performance, reflecting differing partisan perspectives and ongoing challenges.
Trump economy trips up naysayers: White House Report Card
From the get-go, liberals, never-Trumpers, and media pollsters have been critical of President Donald Trump’s aggressive economic plans led by tax cuts and tariffs.
But Trump, with a sorry-not-sorry attitude, has pressed ahead and this week produced a series of victories. He cut several trade agreements that included tariff money coming into the U.S. Treasury and foreign investments in America. The GDP surprisingly spiked upward, and inflation dipped.
As with nearly every week for Trump, however, his White House hit an economic bump with a poor jobs report and a downward revision of past reports that was just too much for the president to take. The Bureau of Labor Statistics blamed COVID-19, among other issues, for its inability to be any more accurate than a TV weatherman, and Trump fired its Biden-appointed commissioner.
This week’s White House Report Card recorded other positive moves, including the reestablishment of the physical fitness council, a new push to unload the Jeffrey Epstein files, a campaign to cut drug prices, and the unveiling of plans for a new East Wing ballroom.
Our graders were split on the week. Democratic pollster John Zogby noted the good economic news, but also cited the poor jobs report. He promised in grading the week a D-minus, “I report good news on President Donald Trump, when it happens.” Conservative analyst Jed Babbin saw the week much better, especially with the surging GDP growth, and assigned it an A.
John Zogby
Grade: D-
I report good news on President Donald Trump when it happens. This week, for example, the U.S. GDP growth came in at 3% for the second quarter. However, unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, only 73,000 new jobs were created last month, and the employment numbers for May and June were revised downward substantially.
The president issued new guidelines for tariffs, extended some tariffs for a few months, and is confusing everyone, including consumers. While his team negotiated new and (favorable to the U.S.) terms with both the European Union and United Kingdom, the deals were an outline and none of us really knows how it will all play out.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell still dominate the news and it is impossible to sort out fact and fiction. This will go on and the president has enabled this sordid story to have legs through the summer. Supporters of the president say the Epstein saga is preventing the administration’s good deeds from breaking through. That would be about right.
Meanwhile, our John Zogby Strategies poll this week has Trump’s approval down to 43% — a five-point drop since February — with 54% disapproving. One-in-five Republicans now disapprove, as do 21% of conservatives, 63% of independents, 60% of women, 55% of Hispanics, and 45% of rural voters.
What was that about ‘good deeds’ not breaking through?
Jed Babbin
Grade: A
President Donald Trump, during his 2016 campaign, said the American people would get tired of winning. We’re not tired yet, but Trump is trying his best to make us so.
Trade agreements from the European Union to South Korea highlighted the week. Both were huge wins and presage others. Global markets took a blow from the agreements. Boo-hoo. Our stock markets will improve a lot because of them.
The economic news was great at home as well. The economy grew by 3.5% in the second quarter, much higher than the 0.5% contraction in the first quarter. Remember all those ‘analysts’ proclaiming a Trump recession? Well, there ain’t one.
The EPA announced its plan to remove the Obama-era declaration that CO2 is a dangerous gas, freeing up a lot of companies to make cars people actually want and cancelling the unscientific, unfounded and otherwise totally idiotic rule. The EPA estimates it will save the economy about $1 trillion.
France, the U.K., and Canada, figuring that Hamas can’t win the war it started in Gaza, are threatening Israel with recognition of a Palestinian state. As Trump said when French President Emmanuel Macron initiated the idea, nothing he said will matter. Nor will the statements of the other two pro-Palestinian leaders.
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John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should. His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on X @ZogbyStrategies.
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X @jedbabbin.
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