President Trump’s top economic adviser is predicting a potential economic boom that would dwarf nearly every mainstream forecast on Wall Street — and if his projections are even remotely close, the United States could soon see growth levels not witnessed since the Reagan era.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett stunned economists Sunday when he floated the possibility that U.S. economic growth could surge above 6% in 2026, fueled by what he described as an unprecedented wave of factory construction, capital investment, and artificial intelligence-driven expansion.
“I think we really could be looking at numbers north of 4, north of 5, north of even 6 because there’s so much capital stock growth right now,” Hassett said during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“Once we turn those factories on, you’re going to see really growth unlike anything we have seen before.”
The prediction immediately stood out because most major economic forecasts are nowhere close to that level. Current projections from mainstream economists generally place 2026 GDP growth between roughly 2.2% and 2.6%, which is much more in line with the pace of the American economy over the past several years.
To put Hassett’s comments into perspective, the United States has rarely achieved sustained growth above 6% in modern history.
The last time the country even approached that territory was in 2021, when the economy rebounded sharply from the COVID pandemic shutdowns and posted 5.7% annual GDP growth — a surge that was quickly followed by painful inflation spikes across the economy.
Before that, America had not exceeded 6% annual growth since 1984 during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
The first quarter of 2026 came in at 2% GDP growth, already stronger than most other advanced economies in the Group of Seven. But to actually hit 6% annual growth for the year, the U.S. economy would need to accelerate dramatically during the remaining quarters — potentially reaching growth rates above 7% for extended stretches.
Hassett argued that headline numbers are understating the true momentum already building underneath the economy.
“Remember that the 2 percent number that you saw for GDP growth, the reason why it was 2 percent and not 4 or 5 percent was that we imported a record number of capital goods because we’re building all these factories,” he explained.
The White House is crediting much of the investment surge to Trump’s recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which largely extended the 2017 Trump tax cuts and maintained favorable business tax provisions designed to encourage domestic investment.
According to Hassett, corporations are pouring money into artificial intelligence infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and industrial expansion at levels that could dramatically boost productivity and output once projects become operational.
Still, many economists remain skeptical.
Critics argue that uncertainty surrounding tariffs, energy costs, and global instability continues to create serious headwinds for businesses. The administration is also grappling with rising oil prices after escalating tensions with Iran disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Inflation also remains stubbornly above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target. The Personal Consumption Expenditures index — the Fed’s preferred inflation measure — rose 3.5% year-over-year in March, significantly above the central bank’s 2% goal.
Yet there are signs of economic strength beneath the surface. Hiring jumped sharply in March to its strongest pace since 2024, according to recent government data, while manufacturing investment has continued climbing.
