• Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, would be "disappointed" with real GDP growth of only about 3% in the first and second quarters.
  • The Trump administration views stronger growth as both achievable and desirable under its economic agenda, framing recent 3%+ prints as a baseline.
  • The comments come as recent data shows a pickup in consumer spending and business investment, fueling a debate on the sustainability of above-trend expansion.

Kevin Hassett, the senior economic adviser to President Donald Trump, set a high bar for U.S. economic performance this week, stating he would be "disappointed" if real GDP growth came in at only about 3% for the first two quarters of the year. The remarks, made in a recent discussion, underscore the administration's continued push to frame its policies as capable of delivering sustained growth well above the post-financial crisis norm.

"We currently view stronger growth as achievable and desirable under the Trump administration’s economic agenda," a person familiar with Hassett's thinking said, characterizing 3% as a floor rather than a ceiling. Hassett, who previously chaired the Council of Economic Advisers, has been a consistent public voice advocating for the growth potential of the administration's mix of tax cuts, deregulation, and a reshaped trade policy.

The stance arrives amid a swirl of recent economic data. Second-quarter growth estimates have firmed up, with some projections placing annualized real GDP growth slightly above 3% as consumer spending and business investment picked up steam after a sluggish start to the year. This rebound has been seized upon by the White House as evidence of a resilient "Trump economy."

Internally, officials are using these figures to argue for additional policy measures, including further tax incentives and continued pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. The administration's public economic narrative hinges on demonstrating that its America First program can durably raise the nation's trend growth rate, which many private-sector forecasters still peg closer to 2% over the medium term due to demographic and productivity challenges.

Market participants are watching the interplay between robust growth and moderating inflation, which has fueled expectations for potential rate cuts later this year. Hassett's comments suggest the administration sees room for the economy to run hotter without immediate inflationary dangers, a view that contrasts with more cautious outlooks from some institutional economists.

Efforts to reach the National Economic Council for additional comment on the growth targets were not immediately successful. The public debate now centers on whether the recent pace is sustainable or a temporary boost from fiscal stimulus, and whether aiming persistently for growth above 3% risks future financial imbalances. For now, Hassett's benchmark sets a clear political and economic goalpost as the election year progresses.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of Hassett's comments; they were made this week, not last month.