President Trump has been making sweeping claims about new investments flowing into the US, but the numbers don't add up. The president's boasts of $21 trillion in new investments since taking office are significantly higher than the actual figures. While companies and foreign governments have announced large-scale projects, the White House has not provided documentation to back these claims.
The administration's own list of major investments is a far cry from the multitrillion-dollar surge Trump has claimed. The list totals $9.6 trillion, but includes some investments announced under President Biden and trade goals that the US is also partially responsible for. This means that around half of the listed investments may not actually be new.
The White House has been tight-lipped about discrepancies between the administration's total and Trump's claims. Spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement, "President Trump's dealmaking has secured trillions in investments to make and hire in America, trillions in commercial opportunities for American companies, and trillions in new export opportunities."
However, federal data suggests that real investment spending remains roughly in line with last year's levels. Corporate investment levels are expected to total around $5 trillion this year, significantly lower than Trump's claim of a $20 trillion surge.
Many of the listed investments were announced years before Trump took office and are backed by federal funding under President Biden's administration. The White House also claims credit for some major clean-energy manufacturing investments, despite its own policies having undercut projects in the sector.
Furthermore, foreign governments' promises to invest in the US appear more like trade targets than actual investment commitments. Saudi Arabia promised to invest around $1 trillion in the US during a visit to the White House last November, but economists have questioned whether this figure is feasible with global energy prices declining.
The administration's own data shows that foreign direct investments remain steady, with new foreign companies investing around $145 billion worth of capital into US subsidiaries and projects. However, analysts estimate that foreign investments will come in under $400 billion this year, significantly lower than Trump's claim.
In summary, while some large-scale projects have been announced, the actual figures do not match Trump's claims. The White House has yet to provide documentation for these claims, leaving many questions unanswered about the true scope of new investments flowing into the US.
The administration's own list of major investments is a far cry from the multitrillion-dollar surge Trump has claimed. The list totals $9.6 trillion, but includes some investments announced under President Biden and trade goals that the US is also partially responsible for. This means that around half of the listed investments may not actually be new.
The White House has been tight-lipped about discrepancies between the administration's total and Trump's claims. Spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement, "President Trump's dealmaking has secured trillions in investments to make and hire in America, trillions in commercial opportunities for American companies, and trillions in new export opportunities."
However, federal data suggests that real investment spending remains roughly in line with last year's levels. Corporate investment levels are expected to total around $5 trillion this year, significantly lower than Trump's claim of a $20 trillion surge.
Many of the listed investments were announced years before Trump took office and are backed by federal funding under President Biden's administration. The White House also claims credit for some major clean-energy manufacturing investments, despite its own policies having undercut projects in the sector.
Furthermore, foreign governments' promises to invest in the US appear more like trade targets than actual investment commitments. Saudi Arabia promised to invest around $1 trillion in the US during a visit to the White House last November, but economists have questioned whether this figure is feasible with global energy prices declining.
The administration's own data shows that foreign direct investments remain steady, with new foreign companies investing around $145 billion worth of capital into US subsidiaries and projects. However, analysts estimate that foreign investments will come in under $400 billion this year, significantly lower than Trump's claim.
In summary, while some large-scale projects have been announced, the actual figures do not match Trump's claims. The White House has yet to provide documentation for these claims, leaving many questions unanswered about the true scope of new investments flowing into the US.