US President Donald Trump cited India’s rapid economic expansion as a benchmark for the United States, saying the American economy should be growing at a much faster pace instead of being held back by inflation concerns and high interest rates.
Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Trump commended India’s growth while taking aim at the US Federal Reserve, accusing the central bank of adopting an excessively cautious stance on monetary policy.
“You have a couple of countries, India is one, doing very well, but it’s at 7 or 8 per cent,” Trump said. “We’re not allowed to go up. If we go up, they want to kill it.”
He said the US economy should aim for substantially stronger growth.
“There’s no reason we should stop at 4 per cent. We should be at 12 and 13 per cent GDP.”
Trump made the comments during a discussion on interest rates after stronger-than-expected US employment figures were released.
According to the President, financial markets have become influenced by what he described as “this horrible derangement syndrome about inflation”, with robust economic indicators frequently fuelling expectations of higher borrowing costs.
“I wish I could flip it the old way, that when you announce great numbers,” Trump said, referring to a period when solid economic data generally lifted investor sentiment.
He maintained that stronger growth should not necessarily be regarded as a driver of inflation.
“Growth can be good for inflation, not just bad for inflation.”
Trump also highlighted what he described as the strength of the US economy under his administration, saying the country was experiencing a “Golden Age”.
“We have more factories being built today than ever before.”
“We have more people working today than at any time in the history of our country.”
He further asserted that earnings for ordinary Americans had reached unprecedented levels.
“I’m not talking about rich people, I’m talking about people who have normal jobs, earning more money than they’ve ever made before.”
Trump also said equity markets had repeatedly touched new peaks during his time in office.
“The stock market’s at an all-time high.”
Drawing a comparison with his first presidential term, he argued that the current administration had delivered even stronger economic results.
“The first term was great financially. This is, I think, blowing it away.”
The President reiterated his criticism of Federal Reserve officials, contending that elevated interest rates could undermine the pace of economic growth.
“I really think that I would love to be able to get back… when you announced great numbers, the stock market went up.”
He said policymakers should support, rather than curb, economic expansion.
India has consistently ranked among the world’s fastest-growing major economies in recent years, driven by strong domestic consumption, sustained investment and government-led infrastructure development.
The country has increasingly become a destination for global capital as multinational companies broaden their manufacturing footprint and diversify supply chains beyond China.
Over the past decade, India and the United States have steadily strengthened economic engagement through expanding collaboration in trade, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and defence.
Both nations are also seeking to enhance investment flows and build more resilient supply chain partnerships as part of their wider strategic relationship.
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