There was some bad economic news for Americans on Friday.
The U.S. economy added just 9,000 jobs in September, a sharp slowdown from August’s revised 133,000 jobs. The unemployment rate also ticked up to 4.2%, while the government revised July and August employment down by a combined 60,000 jobs.
So what did President Donald Trump have to say about it? Well, he had something else he’d rather talk about.
Before leaving the White House for a campaign rally in Alabama, Trump was asked about the jobs report. But instead of spending much time on the weak employment numbers, he pivoted to something considerably more exciting in his world:
His enormous new White House ballroom. And his new helipad.
“I hope you like what you’re seeing here,” Trump told reporters, pointing toward the helipad.
“That’s getting all sorts of awards,” he added.
Trump did not explain who, exactly, is handing out awards for White House helipads. But apparently, the helipad is doing just fine.
He then turned reporters’ attention toward the massive crane towering over the White House ballroom construction site.
“And the best of all,” Trump said. “Look at that. You see the new crane?”
Trump proudly pointed out the red boom rising over the White House.
“That’s one of the biggest cranes in the world; that lifts up the steel for the roof,” he said.
“Pretty cool, right?”
Well, sure. It’s a massive crane.
But the timing is hard to miss.
On the same day the government reported one of the weakest monthly job gains in years, Trump was talking up his vanity projects.
The September jobs report was far below economists’ expectations, and the revisions to the previous two months made the labor market look weaker than previously reported.
The unemployment rate remains relatively low, but hiring has clearly slowed, and wage growth of 3% over the past year is running below the latest 3.4% inflation reading.
So, for Americans worrying about paychecks, prices and finding work, a giant crane at the White House probably isn’t the economic update they were waiting for.
Trump, however, seemed pretty pleased with it.
“Pretty cool, right?”
