Trump Blames Biden as US Economy Contracts 0.3%

President Donald Trump has blamed former President Joe Biden for the recent contraction in the U.S. economy, labeling it the 'Biden Overhang' and insisting that current economic troubles are not related to his own tariff policies. Despite the U.S. economy shrinking by 0.3 percent in the first quarter and the stock market experiencing significant declines, Trump asserted that the downturn was due to conditions inherited from Biden, not his administration's actions. Economic analysts, however, have noted that the contraction was largely driven by a surge in imports as companies sought to purchase foreign goods before Trump's tariffs took effect, which widened the trade deficit and slowed growth. Trump maintains that his tariffs will soon yield positive results, urging Americans to be patient and promising a future economic boom once the effects of the previous administration are overcome. Critics argue that the tariffs have already harmed the economy and that Trump's refusal to take responsibility is disingenuous. Meanwhile, Trump continues to highlight pledges from companies to expand U.S. manufacturing and legislative efforts to lower taxes as signs of future improvement.