Fact Checker Dismantles One of Trump’s Favorite Brags as 'Meaningless'
The claim is technically true, but fact-checkers say population growth and weaker labor measures make it a misleading gauge of economic performance.
- At a South Carolina rally, President Donald Trump defended his 44% economic approval rating by claiming, "There are more people working today in the United States" than at any time in history.
- Writing for CNN, reporter Daniel Dale highlighted the claim as a "nearly meaningless fact," noting every U.S. president since 1948 could accurately make this statement due to natural population growth.
- The employment-population ratio fell from 60.1% in January 2025 to 58.9% in July 2026, while labor force participation dropped from 62.6% to 61.4% over the same period.
- Job creation slowed to 590,000 in Trump's first 18 months compared to 2.2 million added during Joe Biden's final 18 months, economist Justin Wolfers noted.
- Unemployment rose to 4.1% in July 2026 from 4% in January 2025; Dale argued stagnant wages and cost-of-living concerns weigh more heavily on public economic sentiment than employment numbers alone.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Fact checker dismantles one of Trump’s favorite brags as 'meaningless'
President Donald Trump is fond of one particular brag to try and boast about his economic record, but as a new piece from CNN explained, that brag is a sham because, in practice, the statistic he cites is "nearly meaningless."Writing for CNN's "Facts First" fact-checking initiative on Monday, reporter Daniel Dale highlighted Trump's recent attempt to tout a "nearly meaningless fact he portrayed as a major accomplishment" when pressed about his c…
By Daniel Dale, CNN President Donald Trump says we don't have to believe in the numerous polls that indicate that most Americans disapprove of his economic management.On Friday, to argue that his figures should be much better, he cited a virtually insignificant fact that he presented as a great achievement. “I see a poll,” said The post Why one of Trump's favorite economic statistics is virtually irrelevant appeared first on KVIA.
Why one of Trump’s favorite economic statistics is nearly meaningless
President Donald Trump says not to believe the many polls finding that most Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy. On Friday, to argue that his numbers should be much better, he cited a nearly meaningless fact he portrayed as a major accomplishment.
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