President Donald Trump seized on the April jobs report Friday evening, using a Mother's Day weekend message on Truth Social to highlight 115,000 new jobs while taking sharp swipes at his political rivals and the Federal Reserve chair.
“Happy Mother's Day weekend to all, especially to the 115 THOUSAND AMERICANS who found jobs in the month of April alone!” Trump wrote. He added that “over 90 percent of Bloomberg Economists (nearly all of whom have a 'Terminal' case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME!) underestimated the strength of the Trump Economy.”
The president also targeted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whom he dubbed “Jerome 'Too Late and Won't Leave' Powell,” and accused the “America Hating Democrat Party” of trying to undermine the economy. “More Americans are working today than ever before,” Trump declared, closing with “Happy Mother's Day and, know that, we are MAKING AMERICA WEALTHY AND SAFE AGAIN!”
The Labor Department reported Friday that the U.S. added 115,000 jobs in April, beating economists' consensus forecast of 67,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent. The data provided a welcome boost for the administration as it faces headwinds from rising inflation and energy costs linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Inflation spiked 0.9 percent from February to March, driven largely by surging energy prices. The U.S.-led military campaign in Iran, which began in late February, has disrupted global oil supplies. Brent crude traded at just over $100 a barrel Saturday, up from roughly $70 before the conflict, while West Texas Intermediate hit $95.40, compared to under $70 in February.
Gasoline prices have climbed sharply: the national average for regular gas stood at $4.50 per gallon Saturday, up from $3.10 a year ago, according to AAA. Trump has dismissed such data as “fake inflation” and assured the public the price spikes are temporary.
The economic picture presents a political challenge for Republicans heading into the 2026 midterms. Voter discontent over inflation could weigh on the party's prospects, even as the administration points to job growth as evidence of success. The White House has sought to frame the conflict in Iran as necessary for long-term stability, but the economic toll is becoming harder to ignore.
Trump's post included a chart showing actual job growth versus economist expectations, underscoring his effort to claim credit for the better-than-expected numbers. The president's combative tone toward Powell and Democrats reflects his ongoing strategy of blaming opponents for any economic pain while touting wins.
For a deeper look at the diplomatic tensions surrounding the Iran conflict, see Trump’s Iran Ceasefire Tightrope. Meanwhile, the administration's trade agenda suffered a setback when a federal court blocked Trump's 10% tariff, adding to the economic uncertainty.
