President Trump said at a campaign rally on Thursday Americans “have no choice” but to vote for him, warning that “everything” would be “down the tubes” if he does not win reelection in 2020.
The president made the statement while hailing the economy’s performance during his tenure in the White House, claiming that the U.S. had the best economy in the world right now. He later predicted that the markets would crash if he were to lose the 2020 election to the Democratic presidential nominee.
“The bottom line is, I know you like me, and this room is a love fest, I know that, but you have no choice but to vote for me, because your 401(k)’s down the tubes, everything’s gonna be down the tubes,” Trump said while speaking in Manchester, N.H.{mosads}
“So whether you love me or hate me, you gotta vote for me,” he added.
Trump’s remarks echoed those he made hours ahead of his Thursday evening rally. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey on Thursday afternoon, the president insisted that U.S. economic growth would end if the nation elected a Democrat to the White House next year.
“Frankly if for some reason that happened in the 2020 election, you’ll see this economy go down the tubes. I will tell you that right now,” Trump said.
The comments from Trump come amid an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China and as the stock markets suffer steep declines. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 800 points, its worst slide of 2019.
The slide came after the yield for 10-year Treasury bonds fell below that for 2-year bonds — an economic marker that frequently predicts recessions.
Trump earlier Thursday accused the news media of trying to harm the economy, claiming that the press was doing so to hurt his reelection prospects.
“The problem they have is that the economy is way too strong and we will soon be winning big on Trade, and everyone knows that, including China,” Trump tweeted.