President Donald Trump and those who work for him routinely tout the United States' low unemployment numbers and economic prosperity as evidence that his term as President so far has been a success.
They'll frequently deploy some iteration of the phrase "lowest unemployment ever," while reminders that a consistent downward trend in unemployment began years ago—under former President Barack Obama.
This was largely due to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $831 billion stimulus package largely responsible for the unemployment numbers Trump boasts today. The bill also heavily invested in education, infrastructure, and other public goods.
Obama commemorated the bill's passage on Twitter.
Eleven years ago today, near the bottom of the worst recession in generations, I signed the Recovery Act, paving th… https://t.co/6IyeQfvElc— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1581954413.0
Trump wasn't happy at all to see Obama's tweet.
Most would find Presidents Day a petty and unbecoming time for a current President to tweet attacks on a former President, but for Donald Trump, it's completely on brand.
And tweet he did.
Did you hear the latest con job? President Obama is now trying to take credit for the Economic Boom taking place un… https://t.co/bRIGV7wqYR— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1581982829.0
....ever. Had to rebuild our military, which was totally depleted. Fed Rate UP, taxes and regulations WAY DOWN. If… https://t.co/BonaM1gppc— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1581982830.0
While the downward trend in unemployment that began under Obama continues into the Trump era, unemployment has actually decreased at a slower rate than Obama achieved in his final three years in office.
People were quick to call Trump out for his eagerness to claim credit for one of Obama's most consequential achievements.
Can't erase or re-write history, Donny. Just like how you inherited a fortune and still claim you made it yourself.… https://t.co/Dx9PZlg00W— Carl Hasting (@Carl Hasting) 1582036796.0
Obama had steady growth for the last six and a half years of his presidency after turning around the mess George W… https://t.co/rM9wcqa6lx— Bill Maxwell 🌊 #CountryOverParty (@Bill Maxwell 🌊 #CountryOverParty) 1581996216.0
Oh, you pathetic little man, your inadequacies are obvious enough without you shouting about them like this.… https://t.co/wH9Tta2Wy3— Chess (@Chess) 1581983125.0
Trump said if we cut taxes we'd see 4-5 even 6% GDP growth a year. Last year growth slowed to 2.3 percent the weake… https://t.co/KDXDWx02P1— Randi Rhodes (@Randi Rhodes) 1581993256.0
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY TO ACHIEVE 128 MONTHS OF ECONOMIC EXPANSION In JUST 37 MONTHS… https://t.co/6jBowskYqc— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire) 1581983544.0
Truth is not DISHONEST https://t.co/rRmQbuf4sT https://t.co/xuUbIbF9Ta— S.P. BRIGHT (@S.P. BRIGHT) 1581987908.0
What a lie. You INHERITED 4.7% unemployment rate and record breaking Dow. Also, the job growth under your administr… https://t.co/8MN6MquRR4— Matt Murphy (@Matt Murphy) 1581983980.0
For more information about Trump's "successes," check out Everything Trump Touches Diesby Republican strategist Rick Wilson, available here.