Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is promising that 2026 will be the year of the “Trump boom,” but some economists wonder if President Donald Trump’s chief economic messenger is writing checks that the White House can’t cash.

Trump deployed Bessent in 2025 to calm market concerns regarding his tariffs and wider economic agenda, and the treasury secretary has been blanketing airwaves this year as part of the White House’s efforts to address affordability concerns ahead of the midterm elections.