Trump’s outdated spin on the black unemployment rate

President Trump often takes credit for a decline in the unemployment rate for African Americans. (Joy Yi, Meg Kelly/The Washington Post)

“Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!”

— President Trump, in a tweet, Jan. 28, 2018

“African American unemployment has reached its lowest rate ever recorded — ever! Ever! Remember ‘What do you have to lose?’ What do you have to lose, right? ‘What do you have to lose?’ I said.”

— Trump, at a campaign rally in Southaven, Miss., Oct. 2, 2018

“You look at our economy. You look at jobs. You look at African American — the lowest in the history of our country, unemployment numbers — the best numbers they’ve ever had.”

— Trump, in a Fox News interview with Maria Bartiromo, March 22, 2019

In tweets and interviews, speeches and campaign rallies, Trump often takes credit for a decline in the unemployment rate for African Americans. It’s a well-worn talking point that appears dozens of times in our database of Trump’s false or misleading statements.

Three Pinocchios

View the complete March 26 article by Salvador Rizzo on The Washington Post website here.