Trump declares America back after good jobs report
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by Sebastian Smith | Heather Scott
President Donald Trump declared the US economy in “rocket” mode Friday after data showed a surprising recovery in the coronavirus-ravaged jobs market — lifting his own sinking reelection chances in the process.
“This is a rocket ship,” Trump said in a hastily convened celebratory statement in the White House’s Rose Garden.
Where markets had been bracing for yet another worsening in the unemployment rate, the Labor Department said that 2.5 million jobs were instead added in May. That brought the jobless rate from 14.7 to 13.3 percent — not up to the feared 20 percent or higher.
Despite calling a press conference, Trump took no questions from reporters about the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide unrest over the brutal death in police custody of a black man, George Floyd.
Trump clearly didn’t want to mar the good news on jobs, which he hopes will provide a path to regaining his once seemingly solid march toward a second term in November.
After months of criticism over his hit-and-miss handling of the pandemic and outrage among even some top former aides over his suggestion of a military crackdown or police brutality against protesters, Trump is at the lowest ebb of his presidency. Polls show him losing to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
Now with hard data to back his prediction that economic devastation from the coronavirus shutdown will quickly ease, Trump feels his political mojo coming back.
“We’ve made every decision correctly,” he stated in a blanket dismissal of critics who say his management has ranged from incomplete to shambolic.
“We had the greatest economy in the history of the world. And that strength let us get through this horrible pandemic, largely through, I think we’re doing really well,” he said.
Trump then flew off for the day to Maine, a state he hopes will help carry him over the top in a tight race against Biden. (AFP)
