Kathryn Anne Edwards, Columnist

Trump’s Retirement Proposal Already Failed — Under Obama

February 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

By Kathryn Anne Edwards

Kathryn Anne Edwards is a labor economist, independent policy consultant and co-host of the Optimist Economy podcast.

Do you have enough saved for retirement?
Photographer: Pool/Getty Images North America

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In his State of the Union address, the president announced a new type of government retirement account designed for Americans who don’t have access to one. Whether he can make good on this promise remains to be seen, given the likely need for legislative approval from a deeply divided Congress in an election year.

Donald Trump in 2026? Try Barack Obama in 2014.