US state control over economy hits 20-year high under Trump, V-Dem index shows

V-Dem data shows the US fell from 2nd to 16th in a ranking of nations with least state control over the economy, its worst position since 2005. The drop is attributed to government equity stakes in over 30 companies, marking a significant shift in US economic policy. This reverses decades of US leadership in economic freedom and signals a structural change in the state's role.