Donald Trump issued a dire warning on Thursday about the U.S. economy, predicting a catastrophic downturn akin to the Great Depression if Democrats achieve significant gains in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. However, critics swiftly responded by highlighting a seemingly obvious point: Trump himself would remain president and thus bear primary responsibility for the economy's performance, irrespective of whether Republicans maintain control of Congress.
During a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, Trump asserted, "We have record-setting economic success [...] but the Democrat policies won’t allow this to happen. In fact, the exact opposite will happen." He further elaborated, stating, "If the Democrats win, you will have a 1929 […] -style economic depression because their policies are so stupid." He linked the potential economic collapse to policies he described as "transgender policies or the men playing in women’s sports or the open borders," and contended that such policies would result in "a massive recession, but more likely a depression. Our country will be practically finished."
Social media users quickly pointed out the apparent contradiction in Trump's statements. One user on X, formerly Twitter, questioned, "Wouldn’t someone like, say, the president be responsible for making sure that doesn’t happen?" Another user directly addressed the former president, stating, "Hey, moron , you will still be president." A third comment simply noted, "Except he’ll still be President."