President Donald Trump celebrated a stronger-than-expected August jobs report on Truth Social, saying the numbers broke “all estimates” and using the moment to renew his demand that the Federal Reserve cut interest rates.
The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, far surpassing economists’ forecast of 55,000. Economists had also expected unemployment to rise to 4.2 percent from July’s 4.1 percent.
“Great jobs number just announced, breaking all estimates (except mine!) by double and triple – And you haven’t seen anything yet!” Trump wrote. “EMPLOYERS ADDED 162,000 JOB IN AUGUST.”
Trump used the report to push the Fed to act. “Lower the interest rates because the U.S.A. is a much stronger credit than it was just a short time ago!” he wrote. “A STRONG COUNTRY MEANS A LOWER INTEREST RATE – IT’S A BETTER CREDIT… Very simple!”
He went further, arguing the country should have the lowest borrowing costs in the world and suggesting he could use trade policy to force the issue. “LOWER THE RATE OR I’LL STOP TRADING WITH COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE HAVE A DEFICIT, which the U.S. Supreme Court, in its ridiculous and very costly Tariff decision, strongly acknowledged ‘the President’ has an absolute right to do,” he wrote, adding that the approach was “better than tariffs.” He also called on “the Fed Board, with its great new leader,” to “get smart” and “be patriots for a change,” arguing that high interest rates put the country at “a very unfair disadvantage.”
Revisions and sector detail
Breitbart News’s John Carney reported that the prior month’s reported job loss was revised away entirely. July’s estimate was revised up by 44,000, from a loss of 23,000 to a gain of 21,000, while June’s gain was revised up by 11,000 to 31,000. Combined, June and July employment is now estimated at 55,000 higher than previously reported.
The private sector added 127,000 jobs in August, well above the 53,000 that had been expected, while July’s private-sector gain was revised up from 30,000 to 71,000.
Manufacturing payrolls rose by 16,000, above the projected 5,000, and July’s figure was revised up from a gain of 5,000 to 14,000. Durable goods manufacturers added 15,000 jobs in August, following gains of 24,000 in July and 13,000 in June.
Reaction on Capitol Hill
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) credited the administration and Congress for the numbers. “This administration and Congress have prioritized American jobs from day one,” Scott wrote on X. “The August jobs report proves it: 162,000 private sector jobs added to the U.S. economy. More jobs. More opportunity.”
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