scorecardTrump said he would revive the US economy. Here's how those pledges held up in 2019.
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Trump said he would revive the US economy. Here's how those pledges held up in 2019.

Gross domestic product

Trump said he would revive the US economy. Here's how those pledges held up in 2019.

Federal budget

Federal budget

Trump famously vowed as a candidate to pay off the national debt within eight years. But red ink has continued to flow at a record pace under the Trump administration.

In the 2019 fiscal year, the national deficit swelled to its highest level in seven years at $984 billion. The last time it was that high, Washington was dealing with the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Trade deals

Trade deals

Trump has long promised to overhaul the global trade system in an attempt to benefit American workers he said have been put at a disadvantage by globalization. In 2019, he escalated tariff fights with China and several US allies.

Near the end of the year, Trump declared victory from those efforts as China announced it would commit to increased agricultural purchases, tighter protections for intellectual property, and other economic changes as part of an agreement to defuse tensions.

Separately, the White House gained support from Democrats for its signature rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The pact marked a major legislative accomplishment for Trump, who called NAFTA the "worst" trade deal in history. The revised pact includes stricter rules on manufacturing origins and labor rules, but is expected to have a modest or slightly negative impact on the economy.

Jobs

Jobs

The US labor market has continued to hum under Trump. Throughout his presidency, the rate of job creation has largely kept in line with population growth.

In 2019, the unemployment rate held near a half-century low for much of the year. It consistently registered at or below 4%.



Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Trump won over Rust Belt states on the back of promises to revive the manufacturing sector.

American factory activity picked up in the first year of his administration. But activity has fallen sharply over the past two years as tariffs levied by the president exacerbate a broader slowdown in factory activity. In 2019, the sector fell into a mild recession.

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