At a recent event in Wisconsin, President Donald Trump made a statement about Black unemployment rates that he himself questioned. Trump claimed that African American unemployment was at its best ever, but admitted, “I don’t know where that stat came from, but I’ll take it.”

Unemployment Data

Federal statistics indicate that the unemployment rate for Black or African Americans was 6.6% in May, an improvement from 7.3% in April. However, this rate is not a record low. The lowest recorded rate since the early 1970s was 4.8% in April 2023 under President Biden. During Trump’s second term, the rate has not fallen below 6%.

Trump’s claim also mentioned “huge drops” in unemployment, but the 0.7-percentage-point decline from April to May 2026 was not a record. For instance, a 0.9-point decline occurred from March to April 2024 under Biden.

Context and Reaction

It remains unclear whether Trump’s statement was ad-libbed or part of his prepared remarks. The White House has not responded to requests for clarification. Historically, Black unemployment rates have been higher than those of other racial groups, with the national rate at 4.3% in May.

Trump has been known to use inaccurate statistics in speeches, and this event was no exception. Despite the inaccuracies, the President’s remarks continue to draw attention and scrutiny.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.