Can Trump avoid ruining what he inherits from Biden?

Less than a month into his first term, Donald Trump thought it would be a good idea whine to reporters for a while about the circumstances he inherited from Barack Obama. “To be honest, I inherited a mess – it is a mess – at home and abroad. A mess,” the then-president said in February 2017. He added: “We are going to sort it all out. I just want you to know that I inherited a mess.

On CBS’s “Late Show,” Stephen Colbert joked shortly afterwards, in a message to Trump: “No, you inherited a fortune. We chosen a mess.”

The Republican’s whining was not only inappropriate, it was bizarre. Like us discussed at the timeTrump had no idea how good he had it: He took office at a time of low unemployment, steady economic growth, the lowest uninsured rate ever, low crime, low inflation, a modest deficit, a rising stock market, and a country respected worldwide .

Despite the incessant “junk” nonsense, Obama effectively handed his successor a gift, complete with a nice bow on top.

Eight years later, I’m confident the new president will whine even more, but the truth is, the circumstances are even more be more favorable for him than at the beginning of 2017.

The morning after election day, JP Morgan published an analysis we marveled at the Democrats’ inability to translate excellent economic conditions – labor market, manufacturing boom, wage growth, etc. – into electoral gains. And while I am aware that there are hundreds of competing explanations, the assessment was a timely reminder of the golden situation that awaits the next president.

Catherine Rampell of the Washington Post summed things up nicely in a column which appeared at the end of last week:

How could Donald Trump fulfill his promise to restore the American economy? On Day 1, the president-elect should simply proclaim that he has already solved the problem – and go play golf. By that I mean: declare victory, but do absolutely nothing else. Don’t implement any of the economic policies he was promised and appoint no one to implement them.

This may seem like a joke, but the underlying point has real merit. The looming question for 2025 is not whether Trump, as his closing message argued, will “fix” what is “broken”; the wiser question is whether Trump will ruin the gift Biden leaves in the Oval Office.

Trump has vowed to improve the economy, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has vowed to lower unemployment, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has promised to tackle border crossings, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has vowed to increase energy production, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has vowed to create a manufacturing boom, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has vowed to reduce crime, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

Trump has vowed to improve the country’s international standing, but the Biden/Harris administration already did that.

In other words, all Trump has to do is nothing. I assume he will fail spectacularly in his task.