Trump will destroy a world economy that has us at the apex and only getting stronger

New York Post - Apr 14th, 2025
Open on New York Post

The news story highlights the United States' robust economic performance compared to other advanced democracies, questioning the logic behind President Donald Trump's trade war and tariff policies. Despite claims of being 'ripped off,' the US has seen significant economic growth, outpacing the G7 since the 1990s, and achieving high GDP and labor productivity. The US manufacturing sector has evolved, focusing on high-end goods, which has led to fewer manufacturing jobs but an increase in service and logistics employment. Trump's tariffs aim to boost employment in manufacturing but may inadvertently harm the broader economy due to increased input costs, potentially leading to fewer jobs overall.

The context provided shows the US economy's resilience and success under a free-market system, with other nations like Germany and Japan stagnating under different economic models. While Trump's tariffs are intended to correct perceived trade imbalances and reduce dependency on Chinese supply chains, the story argues that such measures may disrupt a winning economic formula. The implication is that the US should be cautious about implementing disruptive economic policies when it is already leading globally, as historical examples of economic shock therapy often come from struggling nations, not thriving ones.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.2
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a well-structured and clear critique of Trump's economic policies, particularly tariffs, using reputable sources and data to support its arguments. It effectively highlights the U.S. economy's strong performance and critiques policies that could potentially disrupt this success. However, the article could benefit from incorporating more balanced perspectives and exploring alternative policy options to provide a comprehensive view.

While the article is timely and addresses topics of public interest, it could enhance its relevance by including more recent data and developments. The use of credible sources lends authority to the article, but a wider variety of expert opinions could enrich the discussion.

Overall, the article is engaging and readable, effectively communicating complex economic concepts to a general audience. It contributes to ongoing debates about economic policy and trade, encouraging readers to consider different perspectives and engage in meaningful discussion.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims about the U.S. economy's performance and global standing, which are largely supported by economic data. For instance, it states that the U.S. has outpaced other G7 countries since the early 1990s, a claim that aligns with available GDP data showing the U.S. maintaining a significant share of the G7's GDP. Additionally, the claim that the U.S. accounts for about half of the G7's GDP today is consistent with economic analyses.

However, some claims require further verification, such as the assertion that the U.S. grew three times as fast as the G7 since 2020. This specific growth rate comparison needs more precise data for confirmation. Similarly, the claim regarding the U.S. global GDP share increasing from 21% in 2012 to 26% today needs to be cross-verified with global GDP figures.

The article also mentions that U.S. labor productivity has skyrocketed compared to other developed economies, which is supported by data from organizations like the OECD. Yet, the claim that the U.S. is the best in the world in terms of manufacturing output per worker requires a detailed comparison across countries. Overall, while the article is mostly accurate, certain claims could benefit from additional data or sources to strengthen their verifiability.

6
Balance

The article presents a predominantly critical perspective on Trump's economic policies, particularly his approach to tariffs. It argues that these policies could harm an otherwise thriving U.S. economy. While this viewpoint is valid, the article does not sufficiently explore alternative perspectives or the potential benefits of such policies, which could provide a more balanced view.

For example, the article could have addressed arguments in favor of tariffs, such as protecting domestic industries or reducing dependency on foreign supply chains. By omitting these perspectives, the article leans heavily towards one side of the debate, which may introduce bias.

Furthermore, while the article references reputable sources like The Economist and The Financial Times, it does not incorporate viewpoints from economic experts who might support the tariff policies. Including such perspectives would have enriched the discussion and provided a more comprehensive analysis of the issue.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and presents its arguments in a clear and logical manner. The language is straightforward, making complex economic concepts accessible to a general audience. This clarity helps readers easily follow the article's main points and conclusions.

The use of specific examples and data points, such as the U.S. share of the G7's GDP and manufacturing output statistics, supports the article's arguments and enhances comprehension. The article effectively communicates its critique of Trump's economic policies, using clear and concise language to convey its perspective.

However, the article could improve clarity by providing more context for some of the economic data cited. For instance, explaining the significance of the U.S. labor productivity increase compared to other countries would help readers better understand its impact.

8
Source quality

The article references credible sources such as The Economist and The Financial Times, which are well-regarded for their economic reporting. These sources lend authority to the claims made about the U.S. economy and its global standing. The use of data from these publications helps to substantiate the article's arguments.

However, the article could improve its source quality by including a broader range of expert opinions or studies, particularly those that might offer differing views on the impact of tariffs. This would provide a more nuanced understanding of the economic policies discussed.

Overall, while the sources cited are reliable, the article could benefit from a wider variety of sources to ensure a more comprehensive and balanced perspective.

7
Transparency

The article is transparent in its use of data and references, clearly attributing statistics and claims to reputable sources like The Economist and The Financial Times. This transparency helps readers understand the basis for the article's arguments and enhances its credibility.

However, the article could improve transparency by providing more detailed explanations of the methodology behind the economic data cited. For example, it could explain how the GDP growth rates were calculated or the specific metrics used to assess manufacturing output per worker.

Additionally, while the article critiques Trump's policies, it does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that might influence its perspective. Acknowledging these factors would further enhance the article's transparency and trustworthiness.

Sources

  1. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/us-economic-forecast/united-states-outlook-analysis.html
  2. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/global-economic-outlook-2025.html
  3. https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/econ-assets/Econdocs/RSQE%20PDFs/RSQE_US_Forecast_Feb25.pdf
  4. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2025/01/17/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2025
  5. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/all-eyes-us-economy-chief-economist-expect-weakness/