The Trump Economic Reality Check: What the First Six Months Really Tell Us

Photo courtesy of The Independent Florida Alligator

Five months into Donald Trump’s second presidency, the economic data is painting a more complex picture than either supporters or critics might expect. Comparing the first half of 2025 with the same period under Biden in 2024 reveals an economy showing both positive and negative indicators.

The employment picture sends mixed signals. The unemployment rate has held steady at 4.2 percent through May 2025, slightly higher than the 4.0–4.1...