President Trump touted black unemployment reaching the lowest rate ever recorded in December. But when he pointed out the low numbers during his State of the Union address, black Democratic members of Congress sat still with stony faces. Trump said, “Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low. African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded, and Hispanic American unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history.”

Reaction shot to Trump’s line about African-American unemployment being down pic.twitter.com/MkxAokFPKN

— Tal Kopan (@TalKopan) January 31, 2018

In the address, Trump didn’t exactly claim credit. He implied it, though, when he included it in the list of his accomplishments. Before that, he’d directly claimed credit in a tweet to rapper Jay-Z. 

Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018

Is Trump responsible for lowering black unemployment? In December 2017, it was at 6.8 percent, according to Bureau of Labor statistics. This is the lowest rate since 1972, when the bureau first recorded statistics.

Already Decreasing Unemployment

Black unemployment had been declining for several years before Trump took office. It began decreasing in March 2010 under Obama, when it was at 16.8 percent. It was cut in half under the remainder of the Obama administration. By the time Trump took office, it had already decreased nine points. The rate dropped by just one more point while Trump has been in office. Further, unemployment for everyone had already started decreasing in 2010. 

How might Trump have reduced the unemployment rate even more? His tax cuts were not signed into law until December 22, 2017, too late to affect new unemployment figures. He did cut a lot of regulations over the past year, and that helps create jobs. But the effects of deregulation are not clear. Perhaps the optimism created by Trump prompted employers to create new jobs.

It’s a stretch to say that Trump’s policies brought black unemployment to the lowest level ever. He would be better off announcing the statistics and not claiming he is responsible for the decrease, unless he clarifies that he means only over the past year. 

https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/958806763251388416

Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC.