POTUS says 'very proud' of US being in 'Trump economy', touts 5.6% GDP and low gasoline costs

Trump said, '$18 trillion is being invested in our country as we speak' before slamming Joe Biden for handing over a 'mess' of an economy to him
President Donald Trump calls US economy his economy (YouTube/ NBC News)
President Donald Trump calls US economy his economy (YouTube/ NBC News)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump touted his successful economic record in his term so far, declaring that the US has already entered what he called the “Trump economy”.

In an interview with ‘NBC Nightly News’ anchor Tom Llamas that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8, Trump said he was very "proud" of the way the US economy was doing, especially the GDP figures.

When the host asked the US leader, “At what point are we in the Trump economy?”, he replied, “I’d say we’re there now. I’m — I’m very proud of it, 5.6%. You know, we have a GDP of 5.6 despite a shutdown."

Trump says he 'took over a mess in every way' from Biden

US President Donald Trump speaks during the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on February 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is joined by bipartisan Congressional members, business, and religious leaders to pray for the nation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump speaks during the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on February 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is joined by bipartisan Congressional members, business, and religious leaders to pray for the nation (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Trump also blamed former president Joe Biden and democrats for causing the economic “mess”.

“In the last four days, it’s only four days, the Democrats have not uttered the word ‘affordability’. They’re the ones that caused the problem. I took over a mess in every way,” he added.

During the interview, Trump noted how his opponents are now focused on his ICE crackdown. “If you notice over the last few days, it’s only a few days, but the Democrats have gotten to another subject. I think they’re probably saying dictator or something,” he said.

Trump claims '26 is even gonna be better' for US economics

The 47th president also claimed that his opponents “don’t use the word ‘affordability’ anymore because prices are way down. Gasoline is — I was — I just left Iowa, 1.99 and even 1.85 a gallon, $1.85 a gallon. That’s in Iowa. Many states are cracking $2. Gasoline is way down.”

Donald Trump gaggles with reporters while aboard Air Force One on February 6, 2026 en route to Palm Beach, Florida. The President is spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his private club. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Donald Trump gaggles with reporters while aboard Air Force One on February 6, 2026 en route to Palm Beach, Florida. The President is spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his private club (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

This year, the US is going to do better than earlier economically, as per Trump.

“I think ’26 is even gonna be better. You know, we have hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into our country,” he told Llamas, before asserting, “Actually trillions — $18 trillion is being invested in our country as we speak. And there are factories and plants and thousands of businesses being built all over the country.”

Trump touts 'removing thousands of criminals'

Further in the interview, Trump was questioned regarding his immigration policies and if he’s planning any changes after pulling out some officers from Minneapolis.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing in the Oval Office of the White House on February 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The House passed legislation today that ends the partial government shutdown while lawmakers negotiate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy and funding for the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing in the Oval Office of the White House on February 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The House passed legislation today that ends the partial government shutdown while lawmakers negotiate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy and funding for the Department of Homeland Security (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

He shared, “Well, the reason we’re pulling out because we’ve done a great job there. You know, we have crime down there despite tremendous blowback from a governor that’s incompetent and from a mayor who’s just — I don’t know what the hell where he comes from.”

Trump was thrashing Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

“But — the numbers — the crime numbers in Minnesota, in Minneapolis in particular, are down 25, 30% because we’ve removed thousands of criminals from the area. These are hardened criminals that came in, many of them — most of them came in through an open border. And — we’ve done a great job,” he added.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Darline Graham, who championed the legislation, expressed pride in the law but stopped short of directly criticizing Donald Trump's decision
2026-10-18T06:30:42.000Z
JD Vance added that he would need to give the matter more thought, particularly after the 2026 midterm elections
2026-10-18T05:42:51.000Z
Joey Amor confronted JD Vance over military failures before an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait killed his wife, Nicole Amor, and five others
2026-10-18T05:03:42.000Z
Speaking at a rally on October 17, Donald Trump said the Department of War would invest the money in the California-based pharmaceutical company Antheia
2026-10-18T04:29:11.000Z
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents searched Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar’s Washington, DC, home on Monday, October 12
2026-10-18T03:53:57.000Z
Trump cited his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' as an example of his increased power during his second term
2026-10-18T03:19:47.000Z
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia and Ukraine last month to begin talks aimed at ending the years-long conflict
2026-10-17T20:47:47.000Z
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that reviving the economy would take time as the Trump administration worked to turn things around
2026-10-17T19:58:00.000Z
Judge Ana C Reyes reprimanded Trump's lawyers for removing park trees without notifying the court as previously ordered
2026-10-17T18:58:06.000Z
Trump reportedly reconsidered his candidates for key seats as Republicans fought to protect their slim majorities in the Senate and House
2026-10-17T17:31:48.000Z