Treasury secretary says there won't be a recession in 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has ruled out a recession in 2026, citing President Donald Trump's trade agenda and domestic policy package as key drivers of economic growth. According to NBC News, Bessent expressed confidence that Americans will feel economic relief next year, despite pockets of the economy showing signs of strain.

Bessent acknowledged the challenges facing certain sectors, such as housing, which has been struggling with interest rate-sensitive issues. He also pointed out that the recent government shutdown had a negative impact on the economy.

However, the treasury secretary remains optimistic about 2026, citing the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate trade deals and implement tax cuts. The GOP's landmark domestic policy package is seen as a significant driver of growth, with various components set to kick in next year.

Bessent also took aim at critics who argue that the government shutdown and other economic issues are evidence of a struggling economy. He blasted Senate Democrats who continue to block reform efforts, including an end to the Senate filibuster, which he believes is hindering progress on key policy issues.

In a separate interview, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett also predicted a strong year ahead for the US economy, citing promising data on job creation and factory growth. The two officials appear to be aligned in their views on economic growth and policy priorities.

Bessent's comments come as the Trump administration continues to push for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. While some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the proposed 28-point peace deal, Bessent remains supportive of the effort, characterizing President Trump as a "president of peace."

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[A video clip of Scott Bessent being asked about the economy, with him confidently smiling]

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I'm so glad Treasury Sec Scott Bessent is being optimistic about our economy ...but what's really gonna make a difference is if those tax cuts start showing some real growth. I mean, we all know the housing market has been struggling and it's not just interest rates, it's affordability. Can't keep telling people they can afford a house when wages aren't keeping up ...and what about healthcare? I'm not seeing anything in those tax cuts that's gonna address our broken healthcare system ...only time will tell if Bessent is right about 2026 being a stronger year

I think it's kinda weird that they're saying recession is outta the question for 2026 . I mean, sure, trade and tax cuts are always a good thing , but what about all these other issues like housing? It's like, they can't just ignore those problems . And honestly, I'm still waiting to see if they'll actually make some real changes to fix our infrastructure . It's gonna be interesting to see how 2026 plays out . Can we get some more data on job creation and factory growth before we all start feeling optimistic again?

I don't know man... I mean, I'm still keeping an eye on those interest rates and housing markets. They're like, super volatile right now And yeah, I get what Bessent's saying about the trade agenda and domestic policy package, but we can't just ignore the fact that there are some major headwinds ahead It's gonna be interesting to see how it all plays out in 2026

I'm not totally convinced that we won't see some economic slowdown in '26 . I mean, the housing market is still struggling and interest rates are pretty high, so that's gotta count for something. Plus, that government shutdown was a big deal, and it's gonna take some time to recover from that. But at the same time, if Trump can get those trade deals done and push through with his domestic policy package, then maybe we'll see some real economic growth . I'm just not sure how optimistic Bessent is being . And what about all the critics who say the Senate filibuster is holding us back? It's always hard to predict the economy, but I think it's good that Hassett and Bessent are sticking by their guns .

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I'm not sure if I totally agree with this guy Scott Bessent, you feel? I mean, don't get me wrong, trade deals and tax cuts can be cool, but have we seen any real impact on the average joe? Like, how's he gonna affect housing prices or healthcare costs? Those are still major issues. And what about that shutdown, it was a big deal . I think some of these policymakers are just trying to spin things and make us believe everything is gonna be okay when it's not.

I'm not so sure about this one... I mean, we've had shutdowns before and they're not exactly doing the economy any favors. And don't even get me started on trade deals - it's all so complicated! What really concerns me is the housing market, those interest rates are killing people! I'm just worried that this whole 'economic relief' thing might be a bit of an overstatement... I'd rather see some actual numbers and proof before I start feeling confident about 2026. And what's with all the bashing at Senate Democrats? Can't we all just get along?

I'm not sure I completely trust this guy Bessent, you know? Like, easy for him to say when the economy's doing well and everyone's feeling good. What about all those people struggling with housing and whatnot? He just brushes it off like it's no big deal . And what about the shutdown, huh? That had a real impact on our economy, but does he even care? I don't think so . The GOP's domestic policy package sounds good on paper, but we've seen similar deals fail before. Let's see how this one plays out...

I'm not buying it! The treasury sec's comments sound like pure spin to me . We've seen what happens when there's a shutdown - it's a total mess for the economy . And don't even get me started on interest rates - they're already at record highs . How are people supposed to afford housing if rates keep going up? I'm watching this space closely, and I'll believe it when I see some real growth numbers . The Trump admin's trade deals and tax cuts might help in the short term, but what about the long-term effects?

idk why they're so optimistic about 2026 ...it's all just a smokescreen, if you ask me. Treasury Sec Scott Bessent is just trying to distract us from the real issues. I mean, what about the fact that he's being backed by the GOP on this domestic policy package? That's not exactly a coincidence... It's all about lining their pockets and maintaining power. And don't even get me started on Kevin Hassett - sounds like just another puppet trying to push through their agenda without any real opposition.

And have you seen the latest "peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine? That's gotta be some kind of Trojan horse...I mean, who needs peace when you've got politics to play with? Bessent just wants us to believe that everything is fine when it clearly isn't. Wake up, people!

I dont know if I fully trust these predictions yet, but it sounds like they're trying to make us believe that everything is gonna be alright . Like, I get it, trade deals and tax cuts are cool and all, but what about the people who are already struggling? Housing prices are insane right now, and folks can't even afford a place to live without breaking their backs . And don't even get me started on the government shutdown - that was really rough for a lot of people .

I also dont think its cool that they're attacking Senate Democrats over reform efforts . I mean, can we just talk about this stuff like adults? We need to work together to make things better for everyone, not demonize each other .

And oh yeah, the peace negotiations with Russia... I'm all for diplomacy and trying to find solutions, but let's be real, that's a super complicated issue . Can't they just give us some straight answers for once?

Ugh , this is so typical... The treasury sec says recession in 2026? No way . Like they haven't seen anything before . All this talk about trade deals and tax cuts and whatnot... Meanwhile, interest rates are still kinda wonky and housing is all messed up . And don't even get me started on the gov shutdown . They're just glossing over all the real issues and making it sound like everything's gonna be okay . I mean, come on, Kevin Hassett predicting a strong year? That sounds too good to be true . We'll see about that . This just feels like more smoke and mirrors from the Trump admin

Man... I'm still trying to wrap my head around this trade stuff . Like, I know Trump's all about making deals and whatnot, but can't we just chill for a sec? The housing market is struggling with interest rates and all, so like, how can Bessent be so confident that everything's gonna be okay in 2026? It sounds like there are some major cracks in the system. And don't even get me started on the government shutdown... that was super weird. But hey, if Trump's got a plan to make it all work out, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. My grandpa always said that "the road to economic recovery is paved with confidence" or something like that...

aww man, that sounds like a really tough situation... I can imagine how frustrating it must be to see certain sectors struggling and people feeling economic relief being just out of reach . It's cool that Treasury Secretary Bessent is staying positive about 2026 tho . I mean, we've all been there where things seem bleak but then something good happens and everything turns around . I hope those trade deals and tax cuts do bring some economic relief to Americans... and maybe that peace deal with Russia can bring some stability too

I don't know if I fully trust this guy Bessent... seems like he's just trying to sugarcoat things and make everyone feel good about the economy . Like, sure, trade deals and tax cuts are cool and all, but what about the people who aren't feeling it? The housing market is still super sketchy for a lot of folks... anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if he's right or not . Can't help but feel like there are some major blind spots here

I'm not entirely convinced by the Treasury Secretary's optimistic assessment of 2026 . While it's true that President Trump's trade agenda and domestic policy package have been touted as drivers of economic growth, I think we need to be cautious about the potential risks and unintended consequences of these policies . The housing sector, in particular, is a concern, with interest rate-sensitive issues that could still pose challenges for many Americans .

Additionally, I'm not sure how much comfort Bessent's comments will provide to those who are feeling economic strain, given the government shutdown and other economic issues that have impacted various sectors of the economy . The fact that Senate Democrats continue to block reform efforts, including an end to the Senate filibuster, is also a red flag .

It's interesting to note the alignment between Treasury Secretary Bessent and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on economic growth and policy priorities . However, I think we need more nuanced analysis of the potential risks and benefits associated with these policies before we can confidently say that 2026 will be a strong year for the US economy .

I'm not buying it . This guy is trying to spin whatever he can to make America look good economically. The trade agenda and tax cuts are gonna be a mess, trust me. And what about all the debt we're accumulating? It's like playing financial Russian roulette. I'm still holding out hope for a recession in 2026 . Those Senate Democrats know what they're doing when it comes to blocking reform efforts. They're not just being obstructionist, they're keeping the economy from getting too messed up. Bessent is either really naive or has a vested interest in pretending everything is fine .

I'm not convinced by the Treasury Secretary's optimistic forecast just yet... I mean, interest rates are still pretty high and housing is struggling . Can we really trust that the GOP's tax cuts will have the desired effect? It feels like they're just passing the buck to future generations. And what about those Senate Democrats who keep blocking reform efforts? Are they just trying to create more gridlock for Trump? I'm still waiting to see some concrete numbers on how these trade deals are going to benefit average Americans .