House majority whip Rep. James Clyburn dismissed President Trump’s record low African-American unemployment numbers in an interview on Fox News. Anchor Neil Cavuto asked Clyburn whether he was pleased with the low unemployment rate of American minorities.
“Tweets or not, comments of not, [Trump] delivers the good for a lot of American-Americans. Has he not? With record low unemployment numbers for one group after another, mostly with African-Americans. You don’t think that’s something that’s constructive?” Cavuto asked.
Clyburn responded by saying the record low unemployment is false.
“No, because it’s not true. I’m saying the African-American unemployment is not the lowest it’s ever been, unless you count slavery. We were fully employed during slavery, so it all depends on how you measure this up,” Clyburn responded.
Rep. James Clyburn dismisses the record low unemployment rate for African-Americans under President Trump by saying it "is not the lowest it has ever been unless you count slavery. We were fully employed during slavery so it all depends on how you measure this up." pic.twitter.com/v7WfEn0vAA
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 19, 2020
According to CNBC, in the latest numbers African-Americans maintained their lowest jobless rate at 5.5 percent. Hispanics also hit a record low of 3.9 percent in September 2019, as well as Asian Americans at 2.5 percent. These are some of the lowest levels recorded since the government started keeping track in 1972.
Clyburn’s comments mimics that of former President Barack Obama, who decided to take credit for the economic growth under Trump. Obama claimed he paved “the way for more than a decade of economic growth and the longest streak off job creation in American history.” However, during the Obama administration unemployment hit a peak 10 percent and he oversaw the slowest economic recovery pace since World War II.
Trump fired back at Obama’s assertions on Twitter.
“Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit of the economic boom taking place under the Trump administration. He had the weakest recovery since the Great Depression, despite zero [federal interest] rate and massive quantitative easing. Now, best job numbers ever,” Trump tweeted.
He continued to slam the Obama administration’s spending decisions and called out Democratic leadership.
“Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted. [Federal interest] rate up, taxes and regulations way down. If Dems won in 2016, the USA would be in big economic and military trouble right now,” Trump said.
Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place under the Trump Administration. He had the WEAKEST recovery since the Great Depression, despite Zero Fed Rate & MASSIVE quantitative easing. NOW, best jobs numbers….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2020
