Top Trump official tells Republicans to expect blockbuster GDP number Friday By Alexander Bolton - 07/26/18 06:54 PM EDT The Trump administration is telling Republican lawmakers to expect blockbuster economic figures Friday morning when the Commerce Department releases data on U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter. Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, told Republican senators in a private meeting Wednesday that GDP for April through June is expected to be high enough to ensure the nation will see its first year of annualized 3 percent growth since the Great Recession of 2008-2009, according...