Trump’s Press Conference Marks One Year since Inauguration
President Trump held a nearly two-hour press conference at the White House on Tuesday, commemorating a year since his second inauguration. Starting at 1:48 p.m. ET, he wrapped up at 3:33 p.m., engaging with reporters for a total of about 1 hour and 45 minutes in the bustling James S. Brady Press Conference Room.
In the early part of the briefing, Trump highlighted recent arrests made in Minnesota, claiming they included “murderers, drug traffickers, and a lot of bad people.” He displayed a flyer showcasing photos of the individuals detained, alongside a graphic labeling them as “Minnesota’s worst of the worst.”
“The situation is even worse in California,” he remarked. “Come on, Minnesota, the crime is unbelievable. The financial crime is unbelievable.”
After addressing Minnesota’s situation, Trump focused on his achievements from the past year, including what he termed the end of “Biden stagflation” and rapid GDP growth. He expressed pride in the economic strides made, asserting, “What we’ve accomplished with growth is incredible. We’ve produced super high economic growth and the United States is in a boom. It’s a boom.”
The Atlanta Fed anticipates a GDP growth of 5.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, following a robust third quarter when the economy expanded by 4.3%. Trump commented, “We’re on track to grow GDP in the fourth quarter, probably well above 5%, and that’s despite the Democratic administration shutdown.”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett previously predicted that the shutdown could cost the U.S. around $15 billion per week and might knock GDP down by 1% to 1.5% in the fourth quarter, suggesting that growth could have been stronger without the shutdown.
Trump also mentioned the “$18 trillion” in investment pledges he has secured since taking office, and he detailed how his tariff policies have aided in keeping the Ford plant in Dearborn, Michigan, operational.
He noted that tariffs have facilitated favorable prescription drug deals, leading to price reductions between 300% to 600%. “Fake news doesn’t want to write about it,” he remarked, seemingly frustrated.
After discussing these topics, Trump opened the floor for questions. One reporter inquired, “How far are you willing to go to get Greenland?” to which the president responded, “We’ll see.”
Earlier that day, Trump shared a message from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who expressed his commitment to finding a pathway forward regarding Greenland. Looking ahead, Trump is set to depart for Davos, Switzerland, later on Tuesday to participate in the World Economic Forum.
