National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett raved about the holiday sales already underway as he told Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy that Americans had just delivered “the best Black Friday tha we’ve ever seen.”

Hassett explained on “Fox & Friends: Weekend” that the end of the government shutdown had likely inspired a boost in consumer confidence as the holidays approached — and argued that wage growth under President Donald Trump compared to during former President Joe Biden’s administration was also likely playing a role in getting consumers through the doors.

WATCH:

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett: “We just had the best Black Friday that we’ve ever seen… Retailers expect that both online and in-store sales are going to be the highest we’ve ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/zKhSJNXThI

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 30, 2025

“The fact is that we just had the best Black Friday that we’ve ever seen,” Hassett began. “And it’s not just because people are out there, you know, taking debt on their credit cards. It’s because incomes are way up under President Trump. They dropped about $3000 a person, $6000 a family, under Joe Biden and it’s up $1500 a person so far this year.”

“And with all that extra money, and with the government shutdown over so that people feel comfortable going back to stores, we’re seeing a really blow-out Thanksgiving and Christmas coming our way,” he continued. “I think all the retailers expect that both online and in-store sales are going to be the highest we’ve ever seen — and the point is that’s happening even though inflation is way, way down under President Trump, you know it was 5-10% under Biden and right now it’s running at about 2.5%, and it’s not — it’s way lower than wage growth, so people’s incomes are going up by way more than inflation and that’s why we’re seeing these blowout sales.”

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Hassett delivered the same message on CBS News, pushing back on the narrative that Americans would only be spending more this Christmas because things had gotten more expensive.

“I think the folks who were saying, ‘Well, maybe people are going to be anxious about going back and getting presents for the kids and so on,’ they have been disproven this weekend,” he said

Top White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says Black Friday spending increased this year, although early forecasts indicated that if spending was higher, it would likely be due to higher prices.

“I think the folks who were saying, ‘Well, maybe people are going to be anxious… pic.twitter.com/UQev2irJkl

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 30, 2025

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Top officials from the United States and Ukraine met in Florida on Sunday to discuss the framework of a possible peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and former adviser, met in Miami with Ukraine’s delegation led by Rustem Umerov, the head of head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

“The end goal, obviously, is not just the end of the war, obviously–that’s central and fundamental. We want to see an end of the killing and the death and the suffering, and I’m sure the Ukrainian side, I know they do, as well,” said Rubio in remarks before the meeting. “But it’s also about securing an end to the war that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent and with an opportunity at real prosperity.”

Umerov thanked Trump’s negotiation team for their support in brief remarks after Rubio’s.

“We are discussing about the future of Ukraine, about the security of Ukraine, about no repetition of aggression of Ukraine, about prosperity of Ukraine, about how to rebuild Ukraine. And we are thankful for the efforts of United States and its team to helping us. U.S. is hearing us, U.S. is supporting us, U.S. is beside us,” said Umerov.

The delegations met as the two sides and Russia continue to hammer out revisions to Trump’s original 28-point framework for peace in Ukraine. The starting offer proposed by the United States reportedly received stiff objections from Ukrainian officials over a cap to Ukraine’s military, ceding territory not under Russia’s direct control, and other issues.

“The American side is demonstrating a constructive approach, and in the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “The Ukrainian delegation has the necessary directives, and I expect the guys to work in accordance with clear Ukrainian priorities.”

Substantial revisions have since been made to initial peace plan, though the specifics have been guarded from the public. Ukraine has sought security guarantees and rejected suggestions of ceding additional land to Russia. Russia has insisted that Ukraine abandon “occupied territories.”

Last week, Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that the Kremlin had received the latest version of the peace framework but declined to offer an opinion on it.

“This isn’t an official one, but we do have the document. We haven’t discussed it with anyone yet because the points in it require truly serious analysis and discussion,” said Ushakov, according to CNN.