Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House's National Economic Council, has claimed that rising consumer spending on fuel, groceries, and restaurants is proof that Americans are optimistic about the economy, even as independent data tells a different story.
Hassett made the remarks during a 1 June 2026 appearance onFox News Sunday, where anchor Shannon Bream confronted him with polling data showing widespread economic pessimism. Rather than address the figures, Hassett argued that increased consumer spending across the board was evidence of confidence. The comments landed against a backdrop of record-low consumer sentiment, surging fuel prices driven by the ongoing Iran conflict, and a Gallup survey recording the highest share of Americans reporting worsening finances since tracking began in 2001.
