“Golden age”: Trump hails fresh US GDP data

• Unexpected Economic Surge: US GDP grew by a robust 4.3% in the third quarter, significantly exceeding analyst forecasts of 3.2% and driven by strong consumption and exports.
• Conflicting Views on Success: Trump credited his tariff policies for the growth, while economists cautioned that the expansion is "unbalanced" and heavily reliant on AI investments rather than traditional sectors.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that fresh economic data proved his administration's policies, particularly his controversial tariffs, were working to bring about a US "Golden Age."

"Economists got it WRONG, but 'TRUMP,' and some other Geniuses, got it right," Trump said of third quarter GDP growth which came in well above analyst expectations.

"The SUCCESS is due to Good Government, and TARIFFS," he wrote on his Truth Social platform, promising that the "The Trump Economic Golden Age is FULL steam ahead."

The United States recorded robust economic growth in the third quarter of this year, with the GDP rising to 4.3%, according to a report released Tuesday.

Analysts had anticipated a deceleration in economic activity, forecasting that GDP growth would drop from 3.8% in the previous quarter to approximately 3.2%.

Consumption and Exports Drive Gains

The recorded growth represents a 1.1 percentage point increase over the second quarter. The primary drivers behind the surge included "accelerating consumption," a rise in exports, and increased public spending.

In contrast, private investments saw a slight decline during the same period.

The publication of these preliminary estimates was delayed by nearly two months due to a government shutdown that lasted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, which disrupted the operations of federal statistical agencies.

In a separate post, Trump attributed the numbers to the tariffs imposed since his return to power, which have caused significant disruptions in international trade and created challenges for the manufacturing sector.

Trump also repeated his frequent assertion that there is no inflation.

Tax Breaks and Interest Rates

While opinion polls indicate growing voter dissatisfaction over the high cost of living, the administration maintains that taxpayers will benefit from additional tax breaks next year.
A Volatile Year for Growth

GDP has seen significant fluctuations so far this year. The economy recorded a surprise 0.6% contraction in the first quarter, fueled by a massive surge in imports as businesses moved to get ahead of Trump’s tariffs.

This trend reversed in the second quarter, as lower imports and steady consumption levels helped the economy rebound.

Despite the high headline numbers, several economists argued that the current growth lacks balance. They noted that the expansion is primarily driven by investments in artificial intelligence and data center construction, while traditional industrial sectors continue to face difficulties.