Labor Department figures mark the highest jobless rate in four years, as Trump’s claim of reducing it to zero draws criticism over credibility and potential hiring impacts.
The U.S. unemployment rate for November climbed to 4.6%, a four-year high, up from 4% at the start of Donald Trump’s presidency according to Labor Department data. Trump asserted that a single phone call could lower the rate to zero, a statement that attracted criticism for potentially undermining official labor statistics and influencing business hiring decisions. Historical analysis from The Wall Street Journal notes no consistent correlation between unemployment changes and election outcomes, despite similar early-term rises under past presidents.