According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a record 20.5 million people abruptly lost their jobs in April 2020 as businesses closed or severely reduced operations to try to limit the spread of COVID-19 – something the Trump administration failed to do.
A decade of employment gains vanished in a single month under Trump, nearly double the jobs lost during the entire 2007-2009 financial crisis. Faced with a public health crisis in the final months of his presidency, Trump failed to coordinate an adequate response to keep Americans safe and keep the economy open. Not only was the economy in ruins but by the end of April 2020, there were over one million cases and over 63,000 deaths related to COVID-19 in the United States.
Trump’s failure to address the pandemic sent U.S. unemployment up to 14.7 percent in April 2020. According to the Associated Press at the time, depending on the calculation method, the true unemployment rate stood “at 23.6%, not far from the Depression peak of nearly 25%.”
When Americans needed leadership and a comprehensive response, Trump downplayed the threat of the disease and politicized the pandemic.
It would take a historic investment by President Biden to recover all the jobs lost during the pandemic and at a rate faster than that of the three most recent prior recession recovery periods.
“There is no question the American economy is better off today than it was four years ago when it was hemorrhaging jobs under President Trump. This fucking guy has coasted on the image of being a genius businessman for decades, despite many of his businesses losing money or falling into disrepair. When it mattered the most, Trump’s chief concern was himself and he failed to keep Americans secure and the doors open for the businesses on Main Street. Voters have no reason to believe that Trump won’t put himself first and fail them yet again,” said American Bridge 21st Century Presidential Campaigns Communications Director, Brandon Weathersby.
American Bridge’s “This F*cking Guy” campaign is reminding voters of key moments from Trump’s presidency as he pursues the GOP nomination in 2024. Our Trump Research Book is up-to-date with research to help tell the full story about Trump’s failed COVID-19 response and make the case against allowing his incompetence to inhabit the White House once again.
Published: Apr 30, 2024 | Last Modified: May 2, 2024