It’s widely understood that officials should under-promise and over-deliver. On economic growth, the White House has got it backward.
Interestingly enough, the highest GDP on record came in 1942, when domestic production roared at the start of World War II, and growth reached nearly 19%.
Trump suggested last week that he could top that — because he doesn’t know anything about economic policy: tinyurl.com/2uzdsfk7
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-16T14:54:17.591Z
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/raising-the-economic-bar-far-too-high-trump-and-his-team-set-themselves-up-for-failure
Having failed to meet these unrealistic goals previously, Trump and his team have learned their lesson.
No, I’m just kidding. They’ve learned nothing and are making the exact same mistakes.
Lutnick: "I think under President Trump you're gonna see the economy grow 6%"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-11T13:22:44.764Z
On Thursday morning, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted that annual GDP growth in Trump’s second term is likely to reach 6% — a line he’s pushed more than once in recent weeks.
As a rule, officials recognize the importance of under-promising and over-delivering, especially after having already failed. But Lutnick went there anyway.
A day earlier, at a White House event, his boss went considerably further.
Trump says he doesn't know why America can't achieve 25 percent annual economic growth
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-10T20:32:26.617Z
......Just as importantly, as a political matter, he has a reason not to raise expectations like this. If, for example, the U.S. had 3% GDP growth every year during his second term, that would be evidence of a healthy economy. But according to Trump and his team, it would also deserve to be seen as a disappointment, since Lutnick is pointing to 6% growth, while the president himself pitches 20% to 25% growth.
There is such a thing as expectation management. These guys are flunking it in embarrassing fashion.
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