Trump Foretells Weak GDP on Truth Social Ahead of Official Release

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — President Donald Trump appeared to foreshadow weaker economic growth before the federal government released fourth-quarter GDP figures.

In a Truth Social post at 7:50 a.m. ET Friday, Trump wrote, “The Democrat Shutdown cost the U.S.A. at least two points in GDP. That’s why they are doing it, in mini form, again.”

Forty minutes later, the Commerce Department reported that U.S. gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 1.4% in the fourth quarter, down three percentage points from the previous quarter and below economists’ expectations of 2.5% growth.

Trump’s post referenced last year’s 43-day government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, and the Congressional Budget Office had estimated the lapse could reduce Q4 GDP by up to two points.

Trump has previously disclosed economic data before official releases, raising questions about possible policy violations and whether traders were receiving advance information. Executive branch rules prohibit public commentary on economic data until 30 minutes after release.

A White House official told CNBC that the president’s post was consistent with his prior commentary on the economic impact of the shutdown and did not constitute an early disclosure of sensitive data