US President Donald Trump recently delivered a televised address from the White House, outlining what he described as significant economic and financial gains during his second term in office. The speech focused heavily on inflation, trade strategy, tariffs, wages and household affordability, while placing significant blame on the previous Democratic administration for economic difficulties faced by Americans.

Trump stated that he assumed office at a time when the country was under severe economic pressure, with high inflation and declining purchasing power affecting millions of households. He argued that inflation levels at the time were among the worst seen in decades and had made basic necessities increasingly unaffordable. According to him, these conditions emerged as a result of policies pursued by the previous administration, particularly excessive public spending.

Throughout the address, Trump repeatedly criticised the Biden administration, accusing it of weakening the US economy by draining government resources and pushing up prices across sectors. He also aimed at earlier trade agreements, claiming they had diminished America’s standing in the global economy. In contrast, he asserted that the US had regained international respect since the start of his second term.

A key theme of the speech was trade policy, with tariffs presented as a central pillar of Trump’s economic strategy. He claimed that his administration had secured an unprecedented $18 trillion in investment commitments, linking this inflow directly to tariff measures that encouraged companies to manufacture within the United States. According to Trump, businesses were relocating operations back home to avoid tariffs, leading to a surge in factory construction, job creation and growth in industries such as artificial intelligence and automobiles.

Trump portrayed the economic turnaround as historic, saying the nation had moved from the brink of collapse to renewed strength within a year. He again attributed previous economic struggles to Democratic leadership, arguing that unchecked spending had driven prices to record highs. He maintained that his administration was now rapidly reversing those trends.

Addressing cost-of-living issues, Trump listed several price increases that occurred during the Biden years, including cars, fuel, hotel stays and air travel. He claimed that these costs were now declining under his leadership. Food prices were also highlighted, with Trump pointing to significant reductions in grocery items such as eggs and turkey. He suggested that broader price declines were ongoing and would continue.

Energy costs featured prominently in the address. Trump said households had suffered major financial losses due to rising electricity prices under the previous administration. He noted that a national energy emergency had been declared on his first day in office and claimed that fuel prices had since fallen sharply, with gasoline dropping below $2.50 per gallon in many areas.

On wages, Trump asserted that take-home pay was rising after years of decline. He claimed real wages had fallen substantially under Biden but were now increasing faster than inflation. According to Trump, factory workers and construction workers were seeing notable wage gains as a result of his policies.

The president also highlighted a major tax package passed during his term, describing it as a sweeping reform that eliminated taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits for seniors. He said these measures would provide substantial annual savings for families and result in a record tax refund season.

Linking tariffs to increased government revenue, Trump announced a special financial payment for military personnel. He said more than 1.45 million service members would receive a one-time payment of $1,776, which he described as a dividend funded through tariff revenue and recent legislation.

In closing, Trump claimed that the combination of lower prices, rising wages and trade-driven income had restored America’s economic strength. He said the nation had regained respect on the global stage and was positioned for an unprecedented economic expansion in the years ahead.