Has Trump Really Created the Most Jobs of Any President?

During his presidency, Donald Trump often claimed that he was responsible for creating the most jobs of any U.S. president. However, the economic data paints a different picture. Under President Joe Biden, the economy has added approximately 15.7 million jobs since 2021. Compared to this, by the end of Trump's term, the U.S. economy had 3 million fewer jobs than when he took office.

Job Creation During Trump's Presidency

When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, the U.S. employment stood at 145.6 million. By December 2020, the final employment report before his presidency ended, this number had dropped to 142.6 million, showing a loss of 3 million jobs. Trump's claim of job creation significantly underestimated the real impact of his presidency on employment statistics.

Post-Trump Jobs and Economic Performance

President Joe Biden has not only halted job losses but has also begun to reverse them. As of January 20 2023, Biden's administration has added over 6.2 million jobs in his first eleven months. This number far outweighs the one million or so jobs created under Trump over a full four-year term.

Historical Context and Comparison

It is important to note that job creation is not solely the responsibility of the president. The overall economic policies, global economic conditions, and various sectors collectively drive job growth.

Under President Barack Obama, the country saw the creation of over 10 million jobs. Trump's performance, however, was notably poor, with half of those jobs being lost during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unemployment Rates Losses

During Trump's tenure, the unemployment rate peaked at 14.7 percent, and by the end of his term, it was still at 3.9 percent, even though this was better than the 14.7 percent peak. Comparatively, under Joe Biden, the unemployment rate has continued to decrease, reaching a historic low of 3.4 percent. This trend shows that the economy under Biden is performing better.

Conclusion

While President Donald Trump's administration may have had some positive economic impacts, the overall job creation did not match the achievements of previous administrations, and particularly did not match the post-World War II economic boom of the 1950s. Under Biden, the economy has seen significant job creation, reversing the trends seen during Trump's term. Trump's claims about job creation were often misleading, and the economic data suggests that the true economic and job performance under his presidency was quite different from what was publicly advertised.