SelectUSA reports record $280 billion foreign investment under Trump administration
The Commerce Department’s SelectUSA program attracted $280 billion in foreign direct investment during the Trump era, surpassing the total of its first decade.
Under the Trump administration, the Commerce Department’s SelectUSA initiative recorded $280 billion in foreign direct investment, eclipsing the $255 billion amassed in its first twelve years. The influx came from more than 345 projects involving firms like Bitdeer of Singapore, Graphinex of Australia, UCB of Belgium, Korea Zinc of South Korea and Isuzu Motors of Japan. Launched in 2011, the program had previously accumulated a total of $255 billion.
Assistant Commerce Secretary David Fogel attributed the dramatic increase to the administration’s efforts to eliminate regulations, lower taxes and employ tariffs as leverage for securing investment pledges. He argued that this outcome demonstrates the delivery of the administration’s pro-worker agenda, a point he highlighted as voters approach the midterm elections.
Why it matters
It shows how policy choices on regulation, taxes and tariffs can dramatically boost foreign investment.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage emphasizes the $280 billion record investment tied to Trump’s deregulation, tax cuts and tariffs, while centrist coverage highlights the overall $11.3 trillion inflow, country rankings and sector breadth.
LEFT
Frames the record $280 billion inflow as a direct result of Trump-era deregulation, tax cuts and tariff leverage, portraying it as evidence of a pro-worker agenda.
CENTER
Frames the Trump-era investment picture by spotlighting the total $11.3 trillion attracted, ranking of countries and the wide range of sectors involved.
The left emphasises
- record $280 billion foreign investment
- attributed to deregulation, lower taxes and tariffs
- presented as delivering a pro-worker agenda
In this story
