U.S. manufacturing sector continues to decline, despite Trump's inaccurate statements

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to revitalize American manufacturing. That promise remained unfulfilled: even before the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing in the U.S. declined throughout his first term. Running again in 2024, Trump has made similar pledges, yet results remain consistent.

According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. manufacturing activity shrank for the ninth month in a row in November, with many manufacturers pointing to Trumps tariff policies as a primary cause. The Institute for Supply Managements (ISM) manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2, down from 48.7 in October, staying below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.

Susan Spence, chair of the ISM, commented, U.S. manufacturing activity contracted at a faster rate, with declines in supplier deliveries, new orders, and employment. This trend is troubling for those monitoring the health of the U.S. economy.

Politically, the contrast between the presidents statements and economic reality is striking. About a month ago, Trump claimed on social media that plants and factories [are] going up all over the place due to his policies. In late October, speaking in South Korea, he similarly asserted, Factories are booming in the USA. In reality, this is not the case.

The pattern of overstated claims extends across the economy. Faced with rising consumer prices, Trump has suggested they are falling. Amid higher energy costs, he has argued they are decreasing. Despite sluggish job growththe slowest since the Great Recessionhe has described employment as reaching record highs. Now, confronted with ongoing contraction in manufacturing, he continues to portray American factories as thriving.

Rather than acknowledging the challenges and presenting a clear plan, the president has consistently promoted an alternate version of reality, often at odds with actual economic indicators.

Author: Jackson Miller