Washington, Apr 30 (EFE).- United States President Donald Trump marked the first 100 days of his return to the White House with a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, describing the period as one of the most successful in American history, despite newly released data showing a contraction in the economy.
“We’ve accomplished what many are calling the most successful first 100 days of any istration in our country’s history,” Trump declared at the start of the nearly two-hour meeting, broadcasted live by the White House.
The atmosphere was upbeat and at times casual, though it came just hours after official figures showed the US economy shrank by nearly 0.1% in the first quarter compared to the previous three months, and 0.3% on an annualized basis.
It marked the first quarter-on-quarter contraction since 2022.
Analysts have attributed the economic slowdown in part to uncertainty caused by Trump’s trade policies.
In recent weeks, the president has repeatedly announced and suspended tariffs, fueling market volatility and concern among investors.
However, Trump dismissed any responsibility for the negative figures, instead blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden (2021- 2025).
“These are not Trump numbers. We took office in January. These are quarterly figures and I was very much opposed to Biden’s economic policies,” he said.
The Republican president suggested that his own economic measures would take time to yield results, and hinted he may continue to pin any poor performance in the coming quarter on the previous istration.
Praise from cabinet officials
The meeting, which also included brief questions from reporters, on topics ranging from deportations to El Salvador to Canada’s elections, became a showcase of loyalty from Trump’s cabinet .
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seated to Trump’s right, said US foreign policy was now “based on what is good for America,” not on “what is good for the world.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the president’s first 100 days as “unprecedented,” while Vice President JD Vance criticized the media for focusing on “nonsense” instead of the istration’s achievements.
Trump also gave shout-outs to several of his top officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Jegseth, whom he jokingly described as the “least controversial” cabinet member, a reference to recent revelations that Hegseth had shared details of a military operation via the Signal messaging app.
Musk hints at departure
The meeting was also the first since tech mogul Elon Musk announced plans last week to step down from his government role.
Musk, currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is reportedly planning to return his focus to Tesla, which is facing financial troubles.
“You’ve been treated unfairly, but the vast majority of people in this country really respect and appreciate you. Everyone in this room can say that with conviction. You’ve been a tremendous help,” Trump told Musk.
Musk received a round of applause from fellow cabinet , despite concerns raised in federal agencies about his sweeping budget cuts and powerful influence within the government.
True to his signature flair, Musk wore a cap with the DOGE logo, stacked on top of another hat reading “Gulf of America,” the name Trump decreed for the Gulf of Mexico.
“Elon, by the way, love the double cap. He’s the only one who can pull it off,” Trump quipped, despite his usual strict stance on dress codes.
According to Musk, his department has slashed 160 billion dollars in federal spending since January. EFE
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