FACT CHECK: The Economic Reality Facing Americans Does Not Align with the President’s Claims
Washington, D.C. — During his first State of the Union address, President Trump continued to exaggerate about the current state of the economy. The picture the president conveyed tonight could not be any further from shared reality.
Claim: The administration “inherited the worst inflation history of our country”
The Facts: While the president claims to have inherited the worst inflation in our nation’s history, the reality is that inflation was already declining before Trump took office. Inflation reached a four-decade high summer of 2022 (9.1%), that number had fallen to 3% by Jan. 2025.
Claim: Increase in job growth
The Facts: While the president cites record employment numbers, total employment reflects population growth. The unemployment rate increased from 4.0% to 4.3%, and 2025 saw 584,000 jobs created—the slowest annual job growth since 2020.
Claim: Tariffs have been boosting the U.S. economy
The Facts: While the president says foreign countries pay tariffs, approximately 90% of tariff costs are borne by American importers and consumers.
Claim: The president has garnered “trillions” in U.S. investments
The Facts: The president has claimed $18 trillion in new investment, publicly cited commitments total approximately $9.6 trillion, yet that number is misleading as only $7 trillion are considered real investment pledges.
The president continues to sidestep the real conversation about the affordability crisis while promoting an inflated narrative about the economy. Meanwhile, 57% of American voters disapprove of his handling of economic issues. Voters are paying attention, and they see the disconnect between the administration’s rhetoric and the reality of rising grocery bills, rent, and utility costs.
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered over two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.