India growing at 8 per cent, why US is not: Donald Trump asks supporters

Washington: United States’ Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday criticised outgoing President Barack Obama for leading a slow economic growth, arguing that if a “large country” like India can grow at eight per cent, why the US is not.

Trump’s remarks at an election rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, came hours after latest figures showed the American economy grew 2.9 per cent in the third quarter this year.

The outspoken billionaire from New York said Obama is the first American president under whom the economic growth rate of the US has not crossed three per cent in any of the years.

Trump said he is being told that the US cannot grow faster as it is a big country.

“Well, India is a large larger country. It is a growing at 8 per cent,” Trump said, asking his audience if India can grow at such a high rate, why the US is not.

Similarly, he said, China is growing between six and seven per cent.

“If they (India, China) grow at two-three per cent, this would be considered disastrous by them, he said.

PTI