Foreign Investors Just Secured $280 Billion Through SelectUSA. That Is Confidence — If Washington Keeps Earning It
Commerce says SelectUSA secured more than $280 billion in foreign direct investment under President Trump — topping every prior program year combined since 2011 — with about 55,000 American jobs expected. In our view, that is a win worth protecting with energy, tax policy and a rule of law that treats capital fairly.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 18, 2026 | 7-min read For years, the declinists said America was finished as a place to build. On Thursday, the Commerce Department put a different number on the table. SelectUSA, the federal program that helps foreign companies invest here, has helped secure more than $280 billion in foreign direct investment during the Trump Administration — more than the $255 billion recorded in all previous program years combined since SelectUSA launched in 2011 [1]. In our view, that is not a press-release flourish. It is a vote with real capital, and Washington should treat it as a responsibility. Key Takeaways Commerce's International Trade Administration says SelectUSA has secured more than $280 billion in FDI under President Trump, exceeding the $255 billion total from all prior program years since 2011 [1]. That $280 billion is more than four times the $68 billion SelectUSA generated in the comparable period of the Biden Administration, Commerce says [1]. The Trump-era total covers more than 345 projects expected to support about 55,000 American jobs [1]. The 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit alone catalyzed more than $56 billion in