Former President Barack Obama thrust himself back into the spotlight recently, accusing President Donald Trump of being a “threat to our democracy,” all the while touting himself being the purveyor of one of the greatest economic booms in U.S. history. Last week, Obama stirred controversy after he gave a speech at the University of Illinois and explained how the great successes seen in the American economy are, in fact, his, not Trump’s.
“When you hear how great the economy is doing right now, let’s just remember when this recovery started,” Obama said. “I’m glad it’s continued but when you hear about this economic miracle that’s been going on, when the job numbers come out, monthly job numbers, suddenly Republicans are saying ‘It’s a miracle.’ I have to remind them — actually, those job numbers are the same as they were in 2015 and 2016.”
Of course, President Trump responded to the claims rather quickly, telling loyal supporters that “He was trying to take credit for this incredible thing that’s happening. It wasn’t him.”
Even the Associated Press accosted Obama by entitling an article: “Obama doesn’t always tell the straight story.”
Though, as media types fight over the ownership of the burgeoning economy, Campus Reform, a conservative news site focused on higher education, went to Michigan State University to ask young college students who they think deserves credit for how well the economy is performing.
The answers, compared with with the rhetoric that has been coming out of college campuses since the 2016 campaign, were surprising – surprisingly accurate.
When asked about Obama’s comments, one student said, “He’s been out long enough now, [the economy] is not on him anymore, it’s more on Donald Trump. I guess he’s a little bit in the wrong.”
“I would, unfortunately, side with Trump on this one. I think he has done a lot for the economy that Obama didn’t do such a good job on so I’ll side with Trump on that one,” added another.
As displayed in the video, many self-identified liberals were in agreement with Trump’s effects in the booming economy – even if they didn’t like to admit it.
Other students added, “I feel like once a President’s done they hand it off,” and “in terms of [economic] confidence and changing people’s attitudes, I would say that’s mostly Trump.”
“Of all the things I have a problem with, the economy isn’t one of them… He’s a businessman. I think that’s his strong suit,” admitted one student.
Other responses were:
“His tweets and stuff, I find offensive…but economically I feel like he’s really helping us.”
“Overall yeah, he does make some good deals.”
“I do know for a fact he’s been helping…and we’ve been doing better with unemployment.”
There were numerous examples of students agreeing with the cause and effect relationship between Trump and the U.S. economy. For those in the media that are continuing to disparage President Trump and his policies that have clearly helped grow the economy to above four percent quarterly growth – when Obama said three percent was impossible – they now look a bit petty for protecting their own kind.
Unemployment levels have hit half-century lows in every single demographic, there are more jobs than there are people to fill them, the stock market has hit over 100 record highs since election night 2016 – just a few examples of a renewed confidence in the American economy. While liberal college kids were extraordinarily apprehensive to agree with anything Trump has done or stands for, they cannot hide it any longer.
The American economy is a triumph.