President Trump has been making ambitious claims about new investments flowing into the US, with figures reaching as high as $21 trillion since taking office. However, a CBS News review found no evidence to support these claims, and the administration's own list of major investments totals only around $9.6 trillion.
The White House has not provided documentation showing total commitments or new investments approaching the scale Trump has cited. In fact, some of the largest corporate commitments on the list were originally announced under President Biden's administration and are backed by federal funding. For example, a $200 billion investment by Micron Technology in semiconductor manufacturing was previously announced years before Trump took office.
Trump's administration also claims credit for some major clean-energy manufacturing investments, despite its own policies having undercut projects in the sector. However, research shows that the administration's funding cuts and policy shifts have halted over $20.8 billion in clean manufacturing investments this year.
Foreign governments account for nearly $6 trillion on the White House's list, but many of these figures are trade targets rather than actual investments in the US. For example, a joint announcement between the US and Qatar committed to "generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion," without specifying what portion Qatar would spend or when.
Current US investment levels remain typical, with federal data suggesting that real investment spending is roughly in line with last year's levels. Gross private domestic investment, the broadest measure of what US companies are spending to expand their businesses, is projected to total about $5.4 trillion this year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Experts say that announcements do not always translate into realized investment, and foreign corporations have sharply increased the number of spending pledges under Trump. However, estimates suggest that foreign investments will come in under $400 billion this year, well below record levels.
The White House has not provided documentation showing total commitments or new investments approaching the scale Trump has cited. In fact, some of the largest corporate commitments on the list were originally announced under President Biden's administration and are backed by federal funding. For example, a $200 billion investment by Micron Technology in semiconductor manufacturing was previously announced years before Trump took office.
Trump's administration also claims credit for some major clean-energy manufacturing investments, despite its own policies having undercut projects in the sector. However, research shows that the administration's funding cuts and policy shifts have halted over $20.8 billion in clean manufacturing investments this year.
Foreign governments account for nearly $6 trillion on the White House's list, but many of these figures are trade targets rather than actual investments in the US. For example, a joint announcement between the US and Qatar committed to "generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion," without specifying what portion Qatar would spend or when.
Current US investment levels remain typical, with federal data suggesting that real investment spending is roughly in line with last year's levels. Gross private domestic investment, the broadest measure of what US companies are spending to expand their businesses, is projected to total about $5.4 trillion this year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Experts say that announcements do not always translate into realized investment, and foreign corporations have sharply increased the number of spending pledges under Trump. However, estimates suggest that foreign investments will come in under $400 billion this year, well below record levels.