President Trump’s top economic adviser is projecting a dramatic economic expansion this year, arguing that a wave of business investment and factory growth could push U.S. economic growth far beyond what most economists currently expect.
Speaking on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett suggested the economy could grow at a pace exceeding 6% in 2026, a figure that would represent one of the strongest annual performances in decades.
“I think we really could be looking at numbers north of 4, north of 5, north of even 6 because there’s so much capital stock growth right now,” Hassett said during the interview.
He pointed to a recent surge in capital spending by corporations, particularly investments tied to artificial intelligence and manufacturing infrastructure, as the main driver behind his optimism.
“Once we turn those factories on, you’re going to see growth unlike anything we have seen before,” Hassett added.
The comments come as the Trump administration continues to tout its economic agenda, including the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which renewed many provisions from Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Hassett argued that the legislation is already fueling an investment boom as companies ramp up spending on factories, equipment, and technology.
Despite the administration’s bullish outlook, most mainstream economic forecasts remain far more cautious. Many economists currently project U.S. GDP growth for 2026 to land somewhere between 2.2% and 2.6%, roughly in line with the country’s recent economic performance.
For the U.S. economy to achieve 6% annual growth this year, however, the pace of expansion during the remaining quarters would likely need to accelerate significantly. The economy grew at a 2% rate during the first quarter of 2026, according to government data.
Hassett argued that the first-quarter number understated the economy’s actual strength because of a spike in imports tied to factory construction and capital investment.
“Remember that the 2 percent number that you saw for GDP growth, the reason why it was 2 percent and not 4 or 5 percent was that we imported a record number of capital goods because we’re building all these factories,” he said.
Historically, sustained economic growth above 6% has been extremely rare in the United States. The last time the country came close was in 2021, when the post-pandemic recovery drove GDP growth to 5.7%. Before that, the U.S. had not surpassed 6% annual growth since 1984.
Critics of the administration’s economic policies argue that uncertainty tied to tariffs and trade policy during Trump’s first year back in office has created volatility for businesses and financial markets. Others warn that rapid growth could reignite inflation pressures that have remained stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s target.
Inflation measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — the Fed’s preferred gauge — came in at 3.5% for the year ending in March, still well above the central bank’s longstanding 2% goal.
At the same time, the labor market has shown signs of continued strength. Government data released recently showed hiring surged in March to its highest level since 2024, adding to the administration’s argument that the economy remains on solid footing despite lingering concerns over inflation and global instability.
Additional pressure has also come from rising oil prices linked to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that handles a major share of the world’s seaborne oil supply.
Even with those concerns, Hassett maintained that the current level of private-sector investment could drive economic growth well beyond conventional forecasts in the months ahead.
