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Fact check: What did trump say about black jobs
1. Summary of the results
Trump made a controversial statement claiming that immigrants are "taking Black jobs" during a National Association of Black Journalists panel [1] and during a debate [2]. He specifically stated "They're taking Black jobs now" and suggested immigrants could be taking 18-20 million jobs [3]. This statement was met with significant criticism, including from NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson who explicitly stated there is "no such thing as a Black job" [3] [2].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual points need to be considered:
- Economic Data Contradicts the Claim: Available data shows that Black unemployment has actually improved under both Trump and Biden administrations [3]. Current U.S.-born citizen unemployment remains near all-time lows at 3.8% [3].
- Historical Records: Trump did achieve record lows during his presidency in 2019, with Black unemployment at 5.3% and poverty at 18.8%. However, these records were subsequently broken under Biden's presidency, with Black unemployment hitting 4.8% in April 2023 and poverty dropping to 17.1% in 2022 [4].
- Immigration Impact: Economists argue that immigrants actually contribute to economic growth and job creation, rather than causing job displacement. They typically fill positions in sectors like construction and agriculture that native workers are unlikely to take [3].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
There are several potential sources of misinformation:
- Selective Data Usage: The Trump campaign's claims about Black unemployment being higher under Biden (6.3% vs 5.3%) deliberately ignores months when Biden's administration saw lower Black unemployment rates [5].
- Political Motivation: Experts suggest this was an off-the-cuff remark without strategic depth, reflecting Trump's inability to effectively communicate with Black audiences [1]. The statement appears to be a potentially racist attempt to pander to Black voters rather than a reflection of economic reality.
- Who Benefits: Trump's campaign benefits from creating a narrative that pits different demographic groups against each other, particularly on employment issues. However, this narrative is contradicted by actual economic data and expert analysis.