Trump Blames Biden For Economic Dip, Says Q1 Contraction Reflects Policies Before His Inauguration

President Donald Trump blamed former President Joe Biden for the U.S. economy's 0.3% contraction in the first quarter of 2025, according to CNBC. Trump deflected responsibility for the downturn by citing his late January inauguration. Trump said the negative growth and falling markets stemmed from Biden’s policies and not his own tariff plans, which he insisted would ultimately spur a boom. The Commerce Department attributed the GDP drop to companies importing goods in anticipation of Trump’s tariffs and a decline in government spending. Critics noted that Trump previously claimed credit for market rallies under Biden, while his current claims conflict with inflation data showing prices rising sharply in the first quarter.