In Other News · United States · Business

Source: Axios

President Trump's economic officials acknowledge that a strong economy alone will not persuade Americans that they are better off under this president.Why it matters: The administration is trying to avoid what it sees as a Biden-era mistake: touting strong economic data while Americans are still reeling from a historic run-up in prices to which Trump's policies have contributed.It is a high-wire messaging act just weeks before the midterms: The administration wants to promote strong growth without appearing to dismiss Americans' frustration over the cost of living."If I say, 'Oh, people are wrong, the economy is great,' then it looks like I'm insensitive. And if I then go into why the economy is great, then it looks like I'm insensitive," top White House economist Kevin Hassett said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.What they're saying: "What we're not going to do is do what the Biden people did and tell the American people how good they had it," Bessent told Axios' Mike Allen on Friday in a wide-ranging interview on "The Axios Show."Bessent said that the economy remains strong despite the recent inflation surge. "Any of the numbers are quite strong, other than headline inflation," which includes energy prices...