Economic Growth Boasts: White House takes a victory lap
The Trump White House led the week’s messaging with economic growth boasts, amplifying a Commerce Department report showing real GDP rose at a 4.3% annual rate in Q3 2025, the fastest pace in two years. [1,2] The official BEA release (embargoed Dec. 23, 2025) attributed the gain to higher consumer spending, exports, and government spending, partly offset by weaker investment. [1] The report also showed corporate profits rose $166.1 billion (annualized) in the quarter. [1,3]
On X, the White House posted: “STRONGEST U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH IN TWO YEARS 💸 TRUST IN TRUMP!” [4] President Donald J. Trump (President of the United States) separately argued the performance reflected “Good Government” and “TARIFFS,” while administration allies pointed to narrowing imports as a contributor to headline GDP. [3]
Supporters’ case: White House officials and pro-growth advisers said the data validate Trump’s tariff and tax agenda and could strengthen the administration’s 2026 midterm pitch on “affordability” and growth. [3,5]
Opponents’ case: Economists and critics warned the topline number may mask a cooling labor market and uneven gains—an emerging “decoupling” between GDP and jobs—raising political risks if voters don’t feel the growth. [3,6]
Dismissing Expert Warnings: “Don’t be a panican”
The administration also leaned into dismissing expert warnings, echoing a viral White House post: “THE ‘EXPERTS’ WERE WRONG ONCE AGAIN! Don’t be a panican.” [7] Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (White House Press Secretary) similarly celebrated that “doubters” had been “proven wrong,” framing the GDP surprise as a repudiation of forecasts that tariffs would significantly slow growth. [7]
Critics countered that inflation measures in the same BEA release moved higher—gross domestic purchases prices up 3.4% and PCE inflation up 2.8% in Q3—suggesting households could still face price pressure. [1]
Overcoming Political Opposition: courts, Congress, and energy fights
The White House’s broader posture—overcoming political opposition—was captured in another widely shared X message: “They tried. NOBODY can stop POTUS from delivering for the American people.” [8] That framing landed as Democrats escalated multiple challenges, including a push by Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader) to authorize litigation over the Justice Department’s staggered, redacted release of Jeffrey Epstein files. [9,10]
Separately, Senate Democrats Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) froze bipartisan permitting talks after the administration paused five offshore wind projects—including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (2.6 GW) and Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW)—citing national security concerns. [11,12] The White House defended the pause as “America First,” while opponents called it unlawful and economically disruptive. [11,12]
Trump Administration Resilience: governing through turbulence
The week also showcased Trump administration resilience through executive action and personnel moves. Trump issued a holiday directive excusing most federal employees from duty on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, 2025. [13] Meanwhile, the administration recalled nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassador-level posts, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio (U.S. Department of State) defending the reshuffle as standard and aligned with “America First” priorities—while critics warned it could weaken U.S. influence abroad. [14]
What’s next: Markets and lawmakers will watch whether Q4 growth cools, whether courts constrain the wind pause, and whether Schumer’s litigation push gains traction—tests of both the administration’s economic narrative and its resilience strategy heading into 2026. [1,11,10]
Citations
[1] https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/gross-domestic-product-3rd-quarter-2025-initial-estimate-and-corporate-profits
[2] https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product
[3] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/23/trump-economy-consumer-spending-00704326
[4] https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2025/12/23/trumps-unexpected-gdp-boost-00704689
[5] https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/12/president-trump-highlights-americas-historic-comeback-in-year-end-address/
[6] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
[7] https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2025/12/23/trumps-unexpected-gdp-boost-00704689
[8] https://x.com/search?q=%22They%20tried.%20NOBODY%20can%20stop%20POTUS%20from%20delivering%20for%20the%20American%20people%22&src=typed_query
[9] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/schumer-trump-epstein-files-00702725
[10] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-department-releases-3rd-batch-jeffrey-epstein-files-mention-tr-rcna250533
[11] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/senate-democrats-cut-off-permitting-talks-after-trumps-newest-assault-on-wind-00703450
[12] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/22/trump-offshore-wind-cvow-dominion.html
[13] https://www.newsweek.com/trump-executive-order-christmas-eve-federal-employees-today-11240330
[14] https://apnews.com/article/diplomacy-ambassadors-state-department-1a10058998c86e799ce4e5132a99da18