Trump Defends Tariffs Amid Shrinking GDP, Vows Economic ‘Boom’ Despite Contraction

President Donald Trump is defending his administration’s renewed tariff strategy despite new data showing the U.S. economy contracted slightly in the first quarter of the year. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting and later on social media, Trump acknowledges that the tariffs he imposed are beginning to ripple through the economy, but he urges the public to “be patient,” promising that an “economic boom” is on the horizon.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, gross domestic product (GDP) declined at a 0.3% annualized rate. . .