Gibbs: Hope, but no mission accomplished

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that despite seeing some “glimmers of hope,” an economic recovery is far from a mission accomplished.

Gibbs told reporters that the economy is starting to recover but there is still a long way to go.

{mosads}“You know, it’s important to stress that we’ve unfurled no ‘mission accomplished’ banners,” Gibbs said. “And I think any suggestion of that would be quite premature.”

President Obama and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers have changed their tone on the economy in recent days, pivoting back to hope from fear.

Gibbs sought to remind Americans about the “realistic challenges” that lie ahead. He did, however, say that the president’s economic plan is showing some early signs of working.

“We’re hopeful that the pillars are beginning to be put in place to stop the downturn, to turn the economy around, to create jobs, put more money back in people’s pockets, and provide that long-term economic growth,” Gibbs said. “Obviously, you know, whether the trajectory is now completely on the upside, it’s hard to tell at this point.”

Asked about the administration’s more hopeful tone, Gibbs said it was important for the president to be optimistic and realistic.

“It’s important that the president, while setting forth the realistic challenges that we have, lay out for the American people the confidence he has in our ability to see the economy return to strength,” he said.

That new tone comes as the Chinese premier questioned the safety of its significant investments in the U.S. China’s assets include about $1 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds and other investments. The willingness of China and other investors to purchase those bonds helps finance the U.S. debt.

“There’s no safer investment in the world than in the United States,” Gibbs said on Friday.

One way to solidify international confidence in the U.S. economy would be to pass Obama’s budget, Gibbs said.

“I think the best thing we can do to assure anybody in Washington, America or throughout the world that we’re serious is to pass the president’s budget and put ourselves back on the path towards fiscal sustainability and fiscal responsibility,” he said.

This story was updated at 4:46 p.m.