Key Highlights
- File Image/Pool via ReutersUnited States President Donald Trump used a nationally televised address from the White House just days before Christmas to present his first year back in office as a period of recovery and momentum, even as public unease over the economy persists and his party faces a high-stakes electoral test in 2026. The roughly 20-minute speech, broadcast live in prime time, avoided some of the most pressing foreign policy issues confronting his administration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe address was delivered against a festive backdrop but carried a distinctly combative tone, reflecting a presidency increasingly focused on defending its economic record and reassigning blame as inflation ticks upward and approval ratings slide. More from Explainers From blaming Biden to pledging price drops: Trump delivers his year-end review Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' checks for US militaryTrump blames BidenTrump opened his remarks with a line that set the tone for the entire address.
- “Good evening, America.
- Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it.”The statement encapsulated the core argument he returned to repeatedly throughout the speech: that the economic and social difficulties Americans are experiencing today are the result of decisions made by his predecessor, former US President Joe Biden. Over the course of the address, Trump referred to Biden multiple times while linking a wide range of challenges to the previous administration. Rising living costs, crime, healthcare pressures and immigration policy were all attributed to Democratic leadership, reinforcing a narrative Trump has consistently employed since returning to office. Quick ReadsView AllWhat do Virginia Giuffre, Shafali Verma and Zohran Mamdani have in common?
- They are the underdogs of 2025Bake it till you make it: How baking is more than cooking, it’s therapyThis framing came as many Americans continue to report strain from higher prices for groceries, housing, utilities and holiday expenses.“What a difference a year makes,” he said, adding that the country is “poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen.”Trump defends his economic agendaTrump asserted that inflation is easing, incomes are growing and investment is flowing into the country at an accelerating pace. To reinforce the message, Trump brought charts with him to the podium, using visual aids to argue that the economy is improving and that global leaders view the United States as a top destination for capital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHe repeated a claim he has made frequently at rallies and public appearances, saying foreign officials have told him that “we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world.”Trump also suggested that manufacturing investment commitments would translate into job creation and that consumer spending would rise as Americans receive larger tax refunds next year. However, publicly available economic indicators suggest a more mixed reality.
- Inflation, which had been declining after reaching a four-decade high in 2022, has begun climbing again.
