President Donald Trump leaked disastrous economic data in a typo-filled social media post on Friday.
In a Truth Social tirade 40 minutes before his Commerce Department released the latest growth domestic product figures, Trump sought to deflect blame for the economy cooling.
“The Democrat Shutdown cost the U.S.A. at least two points in GDP. That’s why they are doing it, in mini form, again. No Shutdowns! Also, LOWER INTEREST RATES. “Two Late” Powell is the WORST!!“ he posted on his Truth Social platform, in a reference to Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.
The latest figures showed that U.S. economic growth slowed to an annual rate of 1.4 per cent - well below expectations and a significant drop from the previous quarter’s 4.4 per cent pace.
The figures, based on the fourth quarter of 2025, mark a softer end to Trump’s first year in office, with growth weighed down by last fall’s record-long government shutdown and slower consumer spending.
Inflation has also accelerated, with the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index rising 2.9 per cent over the year in December 2025, the highest level since March 2024.
The data is a blow for the president, who has made economic strength the central pillar of his second term, repeatedly promising a “booming” economy and rapid relief from high prices.
Slower growth undercuts that message ahead of this year’s midterm elections, where Trump is desperate for the GOP to retain control of Congress or face the prospect of congressional investigations and potential impeachment.
“You gotta win the midterms ‘cause, if we don’t win the midterms... they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” he told Republican lawmakers at a retreat in Washington earlier this year.
The latest figures came two days after Trump’s top White House aides held a strategy meeting warning administration officials that the economy would be a top tier issue for voters.
The meeting, hosted by chief of staff Susie Wiles, also warned officials to stay on message about affordability as the midterm approach in a bid to counter the president’s unpredictable behavior and tendency to go wildly off-script.
But a rally in Georgia on Thursday, Trump did exactly that, insisting cost of living pressures were no longer an issue.
“Do you notice what word haven’t you heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I’ve won. I won affordability,” Trump said.
According to the department, the slower fourth-quarter growth “reflected downturns in government spending and exports and a deceleration in consumer spending.”
But the economic backdrop presents Trump with political headwinds beyond GDP numbers. Consumer confidence has dropped to levels not seen in years, and labor-market indicators—such as slower job growth—are also raising red flags in critical swing states.
Job creation stalled as businesses juggled uncertainty over Trump’s tariff, AI, and the administration’s immigration policies.
Commerce Department data also shows prices rose 0.4 per cent in December from the previous month, up from 0.2 per cent in November - the highest monthly increase since last February.
Kevin Hassett, the director of Trump’s National Economic Council admitted that slowdown was disappointing but added, “if you look at the average of the three quarters since President Trump took over, then we’re looking at growth on average at 3.2 per cent over the year.”
Some of Trump’s other allies, such as Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, were less enthusiastic.
“I’m skeptical too, because you had close to a 5 per cent number just a few months ago, and now you’re talking about 1.4 per cent,” she said on her show on Friday.
“Markets are on the move and the Dow is down 115,” she added.
