‘You have to vote for me,’ Trump says
President tells N.H. he can keep economy strong
MANCHESTER, N.H. — President Donald Trump on Thursday sought to reassure his supporters about the state of the U.S. economy despite the stock market volatility and told rallygoers in New Hampshire, a state that he hopes to capture in 2020, that their financial security depends on his re-election.
“Whether you love me or hate me you have to vote for me,” Trump said.
Speaking to a boisterous crowd at Southern New Hampshire University, Trump dismissed the heightened fears about the U.S. economy and a 3 percent drop Wednesday in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was fueled by a slowing global economy and a development in the bond market that has predicted previous recessions.
“The United States right now has the hottest economy anywhere in the world,” Trump said.
Trump, who reached the White House by promising to bring about a historic economic boom, said, as he often does, that the markets would have crashed if he had lost his 2016 bid for the presidency. He also warned that if he loses in 2020, Americans’ 401(k) retirement accounts will go “down the tubes.”
The president also defended his tactics on trade with China. He said China wants to make a trade deal with the U.S. because it’s costing the country millions of jobs, but added that the U.S. doesn’t need to be in a hurry.
“I don’t think we’re ready to make a deal,” Trump said.
New Hampshire, which gave Trump his first GOP primary victory but favored Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election, is doing well economically, at least when using broad measures.
At 2.4 percent, New Hampshire’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was among the lowest in the nation. But wage growth is significantly below national gains. Average hourly earnings rose a scant 1.1 percent in New Hampshire in 2018, lagging the 3 percent gain nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In other ways, like the home ownership rate — first in the nation — and median household income — seventh in the U.S. — the state is thriving, according to census data.
New Hampshire’s four Electoral College votes are far below that of key swing states like Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan, but its influence can prove powerful in close election years.