‘I Gotta Own it’: Bill Maher Admits He Was Dead Wrong About Trump’s Tariffs Tanking the Economy as Key Indicators Show Strength

Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher recently acknowledged on his “Club Random” podcast that his earlier prediction of an economic collapse by July, due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, was incorrect.

Maher, who is known for his critical views on the Trump administration, said that he and many others expected the president’s widespread tariff policy to severely harm the U.S. economy within months of implementation.

“I remember I, along with probably most people, were saying at the beginning, ‘Oh, you know, by the 4th of July’—somebody had a thing—how the economy was going to be tanked by then,” Maher said. 

“And I was kind of like, ‘Well, that seems right to me.’ But that didn’t happen. Now, it could happen tomorrow. I’m just saying that’s reality.”

Maher admitted that his forecast of economic disaster had not materialized by the predicted timeline, even though the trade tensions and tariff measures remain in place.

“The truth is, I don’t know what his strategy is. But look, the stock market is at record highs. I know not everybody lives by the stock market, but I also drive around,” Maher added. 

“I don’t see a country in a depression at all. I see people out there just living their lives. And I would have thought — and I gotta own it — that these tariffs were going to f**king sink this economy by this time — and they didn’t.”

Maher’s remarks highlight a shift in narrative compared to early warnings by many economists who anticipated negative consequences such as rising inflation, slowed economic growth and increased costs for consumers.

Economic data released in recent weeks provide tangible evidence that the U.S. economy has shown resilience despite the tariffs.

The Federal Reserve Board reported on July 16 that manufacturing output increased by 0.1 percent in June, following an upwardly revised 0.3 percent gain in May. 

This sustained growth in manufacturing activity suggests continued strength in an important sector of the economy.

Meanwhile, weekly jobless claims data, which track the number of new unemployment benefit applicants, showed a decrease of 4,000 for the week ending July 19. 

This marks the sixth consecutive week of declines in jobless claims and is the lowest level seen in three months, according to Reuters.

Consumer spending, which drives roughly two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, also performed better than expected. 

The U.S. Census Bureau’s advance estimates released on July 17 revealed that retail sales grew by 0.6 percent in June, outpacing analyst forecasts.

These positive economic indicators contrast with earlier predictions that the tariffs would cause inflationary pressures and disrupt supply chains, leading to a slowdown or contraction in economic growth.

President Trump has defended the tariff policy as necessary to protect American jobs and industries from unfair foreign competition. 

His administration argues that tariffs provide leverage to negotiate better trade deals.

During Trump’s second term, the administration has secured several major trade agreements, including deals with the European Union, Japan, and the Philippines, signaling progress in the president’s goal of reshaping international trade relations.

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