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Trump's first-year US economic record shows mixed signals

Christian Pricelius
January 19, 2026

Donald Trump promised a "Golden Age" of prosperity for the US. One year into his term, where do things actually stand in terms of economic growth and jobs?

https://p.dw.com/p/574L8

After one year back in the White House, President Donald Trump's economic performance delivers both gains and challenges. US exports rose in 2025 and reached record monthly levels, but overall economic growth remained at around 2%, matching that of the previous administration. 

Higher tariffs boosted government revenues while sharply reducing imports, raising concerns among economists about supply shortages and higher costs for US industries. The labor market has seen limited progress, with unemployment holding steady and fewer new jobs created than a year earlier. Stock markets, however, have rallied strongly, even as inflation continues to limit real gains for many American households.

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.