Analysts fact-check the President's latest claims about the U.S. economy
U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a press conference on the day of a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
July 08, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a press conference on the day of a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
Political analysts fact-checked President Donald Trump's claim in a NATO press conference held Today in Ankara, Turkey.
Trump alleged the U.S. attracted "$19.2 trillion with a 'T'" in investments during his second term to build plants and equipment nationwide.
Critics immediately challenged the figure, as it represents 60% of the entire GDP and lacks supporting evidence from any official government report.
"If the claim is true, the evidence should be easy to produce. Which official government report documents $19.2 trillion invested in U.S. plants and equipment?" political commentator Morgan J. Freeman wrote on X.
And added, "There is zero evidence out there that supports this fake news. If there is, can someone please provide? If not, it’s time for a community note storm."
"This number is fabricated, not exaggerated, not preliminary, fabricated with a F, as that figure would represent 60% of the entire GDP," Jessica Riedl, a fellow at the Brookings Institute, posted.
Reuters correspondent Jonathan Landry countered the President's claims by citing a report by IoT Analytics, a market research firm.
"In general, US manufacturing construction spending has steadily declined since 2024, driven by a 44% slowdown in spending on electronics factories and semiconductor fabs since their peak in mid-2024."
Watch the video below.