Trump’s golf appearance puts his economic claims in the spotlight
The 2026 Presidents Cup took place September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago. The biennial competition featured 12 U.S. golfers against 12 international golfers, excluding players from Europe.
The event marked Medinah’s first Presidents Cup, adding the tournament to its history of major golf championships. The United States had won 12 of the previous 15 editions entering the 2026 competition.
The tournament returned to Medinah
The 2026 Presidents Cup took place September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago. The biennial competition featured 12 U.S. golfers against 12 international golfers, excluding players from Europe.
The event marked Medinah’s first Presidents Cup, adding the tournament to its history of major golf championships. The United States had won 13 of the previous 15 editions entering the 2026 competition.
Trump kept his golf remarks brief
Trump told spectators that they wanted to watch golf rather than hear speeches. He then said the United States was doing better than ever before.
His comments came shortly before the final round of singles matches began. The U.S. team entered Sunday trailing the International team 10½-7½ before completing a comeback and retaining the Presidents Cup.
Trump discussed employment figures
Before traveling to Medinah, Trump said the country had its best employment numbers in history. He also said more people were working than at any previous point.
Federal labor data provide several separate measures of employment, unemployment, payrolls, and job openings. Those measures are reported on different schedules and should not be treated as interchangeable statistics.
Job openings remained substantial
Federal data showed 7.1 million U.S. job openings in August 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported 5.2 million hires and 5.1 million total separations that month.
The August job-openings figure was little changed from July after revisions. Quits totaled 3.1 million, while layoffs and discharges totaled about 1.6 million during August, according to federal estimates.
Unemployment was 4.1%
The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the rate was unchanged from July and little changed from August 2025.
The August report counted about 7.0 million unemployed people nationwide. Household-survey data also showed 162.7 million people employed and a 61.6% labor-force participation rate for that month.
Trump made claims about poverty
Trump said there was less poverty than at any time in American history. He also described the country as having its best poverty numbers.
The latest Census report found the 2025 official poverty rate was 10.2%, while the Supplemental Poverty Measure rate was 13.1%. Those measures use different definitions and resources when calculating poverty.
Interesting fact: Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to present the Presidents Cup trophy.
He also cited income gains
Trump said Americans were making more money than ever and described income per person as historically high. Such statements can refer to nominal income or inflation-adjusted income, which are different statistical concepts.
Nominal figures are measured in current dollars, while real figures adjust for changes in prices. The Census Bureau reported real median household income reached $87,460 in 2025, a record in its series dating to 1967.
Interesting fact: Trump Golf lists properties across the United States and internationally, including courses in Scotland, Ireland, Florida, New Jersey, California, Dubai and Indonesia.
Grocery prices did not fall broadly
Trump said grocery prices had come way down compared with the Biden administration. Federal Consumer Price Index data showed food-at-home prices were 2.2% higher over the year through August 2026.
From January 2025 through August 2026, a review of federal CPI data found grocery prices increased overall. Individual products moved differently, so some grocery items became cheaper while others became more expensive.
Inflation remained above three percent
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending August 2026. Food prices increased 2.7%, while energy prices rose 16.3% over the same period.
Food purchased for home use increased 2.2% over the year. Gasoline prices were 27.4% higher than a year earlier, according to the August CPI release.
Trump discussed oil prices
Trump said oil prices would fall sharply when the war with Iran ended. He also said oil was less expensive than during the Biden administration and linked future prices to developments involving Iran.
The August CPI showed the broader energy index was 16.3% higher than a year earlier, while gasoline prices were 27.4% higher. Those figures describe consumer energy prices rather than crude oil itself.
Economic growth had slowed
The latest BEA estimate released September 30 showed real GDP increased at a 2.2% annual rate in the second quarter. That followed 2.5% growth in the first quarter after revision.
Second-quarter growth reflected increases in consumer spending, investment, and exports. Those gains were partly offset by increases in imports, while government spending also contributed to the revised estimate.
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The remarks drew fact-checking attention
Trump’s Presidents Cup comments became the subject of fact-checking, especially statements about grocery prices and inflation. Federal CPI figures showed consumer prices were still rising rather than falling broadly.
The August data showed overall prices up 3.4% from a year earlier. Food-at-home prices were also higher over the year, even though individual product prices varied.
In other news, Caitlin Clark reacts to early third-quarter exit as Fever near elimination.
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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