Obama Remarks on US Economy, Trump Hits Back

'Did you hear the latest con job?'
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 18, 2020 8:26 AM CST
Obama Remarks on US Economy, Trump Hits Back
In this Oct. 29, 2019, file photo, former President Barack Obama speaks in Chicago.   (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Presidents Day featured the current president of the United States going on the attack against a predecessor after President Trump became agitated by a tweet from former President Obama. Per the Hill, Obama started things off Monday morning by commemorating the 11th anniversary of his signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which he said "[paved] the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak of job creation in American history." The former president noted this all took place "near the bottom of the worst recession in generations." Trump didn't miss his chance to offer a reply. "Did you hear the latest con job?" he tweeted Monday evening. "President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration."

Trump accused Obama of having the "WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing," then went on to rave about how his own administration has "the best jobs numbers ever," as well as taxes and regulations that are "WAY DOWN." The Washington Post notes the tweets set off an "online frenzy," with pundits, politicians, and fact-checkers weighing in. Per USA Today, Trump backers argue that unemployment numbers are the lowest they've been in decades, while the stock market has been enjoying record highs, but Democrats note that unemployment and stocks rose throughout the Obama administration, and that Trump simply picked things up where Obama left off. A Post report from earlier this month noted that "the US economy is doing well, but these are not unprecedented times," per a "broad consensus among economists." (More President Trump stories.)

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