Even Trump says he doesn’t know ‘where the hell’ his own false claim about Black unemployment came from
Even Trump says he doesn’t know ‘where the hell’ his own false claim about Black unemployment came from
Even Trump says he doesn t know – At a recent political gathering in Wisconsin, President Donald Trump found himself in an awkward position when he inadvertently exposed the shaky foundation of a claim about Black unemployment. The statement, which he delivered with characteristic bravado, seemed to hang in the air as a glaring contradiction to the data he typically relies on. “African American unemployment is now doing better than it’s ever done,” he declared, pausing to express confusion over the source of the statistic. “I don’t know where the hell that stat came from, but I’ll take it,” he added, his tone shifting from certainty to uncertainty. The moment highlighted a recurring pattern in Trump’s rhetoric: the use of statistics that are either misleading or entirely fabricated, often without clear evidence to support them.
The Claim and Its Origin
During the event, Trump highlighted a statistic suggesting that Black unemployment rates had reached an all-time low. However, the data he cited did not align with the most recent federal reports. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Black or African Americans in May 2026 was 6.6%, a figure that, while improved from the prior month’s 7.3%, was still higher than the rate he inherited at the start of his second term. The rate had been 6.2% in January 2025, the month of his second inauguration, and further dropped to 6.1% by December 2024, the last full month of former President Joe Biden’s term. This means that even Trump’s own acknowledgment of progress falls short of a true historical benchmark.
“And we’ve also had huge drops in — and I’ll tell you, this is something that’s amazing: African American unemployment is now doing better than it’s ever done. And I don’t know where that stat came from, but I’ll take it,” Trump said.
Despite the data showing a modest improvement, the claim that this marked a record low was questionable. The lowest unemployment rate for Black or African Americans since the 1970s began was 4.8%, achieved in April 2023 under Biden’s administration. This figure was even lower than the 5.3% peak observed in August and September 2019 during Trump’s first term. Yet, during his second term, the rate has never dipped below 6%, indicating that the improvement Trump referenced was not unprecedented or particularly dramatic.
Context of the Unemployment Trends
When Trump spoke of “huge drops,” he may have been referring to the 0.7-percentage-point decline between April and May 2026. However, this reduction pales in comparison to the 0.9-point drop recorded in the same period in 2024 under Biden. The latter, from 6.5% to 5.6%, was a more substantial improvement, underscoring the importance of analyzing multi-month trends rather than isolated monthly changes. While one-month fluctuations can be influenced by statistical volatility, the overall trajectory of Black unemployment rates during Biden’s presidency shows a consistent decline, particularly after the economic recovery from the pandemic.
Trump’s uncertainty about the origin of the statistic raises questions about his preparedness for the event. Was he improvising, or was the figure part of a carefully crafted narrative? The White House has not yet provided a clear explanation for the claim, despite CNN’s follow-up requests sent on Friday night and again on Saturday morning. This lack of response suggests either a deliberate omission or a failure to verify the data before presenting it to the public.
“I don’t know where the hell that stat come — but we’ll take it,” Trump added, his admission of ignorance adding to the skepticism surrounding the claim.
The federal unemployment figures, which are seasonally adjusted, reveal a broader picture of economic disparities. While the overall national unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in May, the rate for Black or African Americans remained higher, reflecting systemic challenges that persist regardless of which party is in power. This pattern has been observed under presidents from both major political parties, indicating that the issue is not tied to a single administration’s policies but rather to long-standing socioeconomic factors.
Broader Implications of the Statistic
Trump’s use of the statistic at the Wisconsin event was not an isolated incident. The campaign has previously relied on misleading data to support its arguments, often without challenging the accuracy of such claims. At this event, he also mentioned other statistics that had been debunked in the past, though he did not question their validity aloud. These included assertions about economic growth, job creation, and racial disparities in various sectors, many of which were contradicted by recent studies and reports.
Despite the data showing a 6.6% unemployment rate in May, which is higher than the rates recorded in the last 34 months of Biden’s term, Trump framed it as a major achievement. This narrative overlooks the fact that the current rate is still above the 4.8% record low set in April 2023. The implication is that the progress made during Biden’s presidency has been overshadowed by the 0.7-point decline, even though this change is relatively small compared to the more significant drops seen earlier in the decade.
Trump’s confusion about the source of the statistic also reflects a larger issue in his communication strategy: the tendency to prioritize persuasive messaging over factual precision. By expressing doubt about the origin of the claim, he may have been attempting to deflect criticism, but the data remains unambiguous. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a reliable source of employment data, has consistently recorded the unemployment rates for Black or African Americans, showing that while there has been progress, it has not yet reached the levels seen during the economic boom of the early 2010s.
In the wake of the event, analysts have pointed out that Trump’s admission of uncertainty about the statistic’s origin does little to strengthen his argument. Instead, it highlights the fragility of his claims and the need for greater scrutiny of the data he presents. The White House’s delayed response to CNN’s inquiries further fuels speculation about whether the statistic was a calculated misstatement or a genuine lapse in memory. Either way, the claim about Black unemployment rates serves as a reminder of the challenges in distinguishing between accurate statistics and those that are strategically selected to reinforce a particular narrative.
As the nation continues to grapple with economic recovery and racial inequality, the accuracy of such claims becomes increasingly important. Trump’s assertion, though technically not incorrect, is presented in a way that exaggerates its significance. This kind of rhetoric is common in political discourse, where numbers are often manipulated to support a candidate’s position. However, in this case, the data clearly shows that while the rate has improved, it is still not at a historical low. The 6.6% figure, though better than the previous month’s 7.3%, remains a far cry from the 4.8% mark achieved under Biden. This distinction is crucial in understanding the true state of the economy and the progress made in reducing unemployment among Black Americans.
Ultimately, Trump’s admission of not knowing where the stat came from underscores the need for transparency in political messaging. While the statement may have been intended to sound credible, the lack of clarity about its source casts doubt on its reliability. As the campaign moves forward, it will be important to see whether Trump and his team take steps to correct such inaccuracies or continue using them as part of their strategy to shape public perception. The unemployment rate for Black or African Americans is a key indicator of economic health, and its accurate portrayal is essential for informed decision-making and meaningful progress.
