Flanked by two Christmas trees with a portrait of George Washington behind him in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, Trump sought to pin any worries about the economy on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
“Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” Trump said. “We’re poised for an economic boom, the likes of which the world has never seen.”
And in a special announcement for the nation's 1.45 military members, Trump said each one of them will receive a bonus check of $1776. In fact, he said the checks are in the mail. The amount of $1,776 was a reference to next year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In his speech, Trump responded to the public frustration this year over the economy by making promises on growth next year, saying that mortgage rates would be coming down and that he “would announce some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history.”
Trump brought charts with him to make the case that the economy is on an upward trajectory. He spoke of incomes growing, inflation easing and investment dollars pouring into the country as foreign leaders, he claimed, have assured him that “we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world,” a statement he has frequently repeated at public events.
After his speech ended and the video was no longer being broadcast, Trump turned to his gathered aides and asked them how his address to the nation went. The aides assured him it was great.
Trump then indicated that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had told him he needed to address the nation. After some back and forth, he asked Wiles how he had done.
“I told you 20 minutes and you were 20 minutes on the dot," Wiles said.
