Trump Official Says US Doesn't Need as Many Jobs

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Thursday that the United States does not require as many new jobs due to the Trump administration's mass deportation approach. He argued that fewer jobs are necessary since deportations and reduced immigration have decreased the workforce size. Bessent told CNBC, "I think the jobs numbers are quite noisy."

The US job market has shown signs of weakening, according to a recent report. Bessent emphasized that the jobs observed are being allocated to Americans. After deportations and the closure of the border, the administration no longer needs to create as many jobs, Bessent added. Bessent's remarks redirected attention from the administration's frequent claim that deportations would yield opportunities for American workers to a broader argument about a smaller labor force necessitating fewer new jobs.

The White House defended Bessent's stance, stating that Trump's immigration enforcement agenda benefits American citizens and contributes to economic growth. However, immigration advocates and economists disagree, contending that deportations primarily impact deported individuals and have a broader negative impact on the economy.