Trump economic adviser claims reporters covering recession fears 'want people to lose jobs'

Amid growing fears of a possible recession, President Trump's team is continuing to throw the media under the bus.
When not busy escalating the U.S.-China trade war and attacking the chair of the Federal Reserve, Trump is now claiming that the media actually wants a recession, as proved, apparently, by their reporting on it. The assertion was repeated by Tomas Philipson, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, to The New York Times; Philipson claimed in a Thursday interview that reporters actually seem "to want people to lose jobs" and "become not economically self-sufficient."
Philipson went on to complain that the "way the media reports on our economy weighs on consumer sentiment." Megan Greene, a Harvard Kennedy School senior fellow, similarly told the Times that consumers could "lose confidence and stop spending" should "headlines about trade wars and currency wars dominate the media and the airwaves."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Still, the Times notes that many economists say Trump's "trade policies and the uncertainty they are stoking" would be the "likely culprit" of any potential recession, with the media simply reporting on that fact.
Nevertheless, Trump has repeatedly alleged that the press is trying to talk America into a recession to ensure he loses in 2020. But he could be projecting just a bit, as The Washington Post recently reported that Trump is trying to pull the opposite move in talking the U.S. out of a recession, with the president recently telling aides "that he thinks he can convince Americans that the economy is vibrant and unrattled through a public messaging campaign."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are sinkholes becoming more common?
Podcast Plus, will Saudi investment help create the "Netflix of sport"? And why has New Zealand's new tourism campaign met with a savage reception?
By The Week UK Published
-
How Poland became Europe's military power
The Explainer Warsaw has made its armed forces a priority as it looks to protect its borders and stay close to the US
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 - 21 February
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump seeks to end New York's congestion pricing
Speed Read The MTA quickly filed a lawsuit to stop the move
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published