This is not Trump’s economy

Trump did not create the economy we have now. At best, he has not screwed it up.

However, our economy is worse off under Trump. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in the last 31 months of the Obama administration, 221,000 jobs per month were created. In the first 31 months under Trump, 172,000 jobs per month were created. In job creation, Obama beats Trump.

Let's look at gross domestic product (GDP) growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in the last 11 quarters under Obama, GDP increased at an average rate of 2.56 percent. Under Trump the rate is 2.59 percent. Both numbers round to 2.6 percent, so let's call it even. However, 2.6 percent is short of the greater than 3 percent needed (and promised) to offset the tax cut for the rich. That, and overspending, is why we have trillion dollar annual deficits.

Trump did not create a good economy out of a bad economy. He just has not yet messed it up.

Paul Salamon

Cedar Rapids