Biden Boasts "Most Jobs Created" on US Labor Day... Targets Trump

President Joe Biden emphasized the achievements of 'Bidenomics' on the 4th, Labor Day in the United States (local time), stating that he is creating the largest number of jobs in U.S. history. He openly criticized former President Donald Trump, who is likely to face him again in the 2024 presidential election, saying, "(During his term) he left office with fewer jobs."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

President Biden attended a labor union event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and said, "The person who held this position before me (Trump) is one of only two presidents who left office with fewer jobs than when they were elected." He added, "Do you know who the other one is? Herbert Hoover," and remarked, "Isn't that a coincidence?" Although he did not mention the name directly, he was disparaging former President Trump by comparing him to Hoover during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Biden stated, "When the previous person (Trump) was in this position, you were sending jobs to China. Now, we are bringing jobs back from China," emphasizing, "He viewed the world from Park Avenue, where the Manhattan Trump Tower is located. I see the world from Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware." He also mocked former President Trump as "a great real estate builder but a predecessor who built nothing."

Having long portrayed himself as a 'pro-labor president,' Biden focused on highlighting his economic achievements, including job creation, in front of American workers. He said, "During my two years in office, we have created 3.5 million jobs," and emphasized, "Bidenomics is a blueprint for the working class." He also stated, "When the middle class does well, everyone does well," and added, "Bidenomics is a blueprint for you, America's blue-collar workers." Regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which has drawn criticism from allies including South Korea for providing subsidies only to North American electric vehicles, he touted it as his achievement, saying, "We have changed the future of electric vehicles to 'Made in America.'"

He also mentioned an anecdote with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. He said, "I once asked Chairman Chey, 'Why the United States for investment?'" and introduced their conversation, "He replied that there is no safer investment destination in the world than the U.S., and that the U.S. has the world's best workforce."

The speech came as the United Auto Workers (UAW), representing 146,000 workers from the three major U.S. automakers, voted to strike in mid-October. When meeting with reporters, President Biden said, "I don't think a strike will happen." In response, UAW President Shawn Fain told AP News and others that he was "shocked" by the president's remarks and said, "I think we have a long way to go."