Ledger · Second term · № 243

Jobs and factories will come roaring back

Broken
“Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country.”
Promised
, 'Liberation Day' Rose Garden tariff announcement, White House
Re-promised
20 times with a fresh deadline
Topic
Economy & prices
Era
Second term

What happened

Manufacturing employment fell every month from April 2025. The Joint Economic Committee found 108,000 manufacturing jobs lost in Trump's first year; BLS data showed 89,000 lost between April 2025 and February 2026 and roughly 75,000 fewer than at inauguration by mid-2026. Construction spending on factories dropped about 30%, from $250 billion annualized in November 2024 to $175 billion by May 2026. Growth was flat from March 2026 onward.

Sources

  1. NEW DATA: During Trump's First Year, the Manufacturing Industry Lost 108,000 Jobs U.S. Joint Economic Committee (Democrats), Feb 6, 2026
  2. On 'Liberation Day,' Trump promised a manufacturing boom. The data tell a different story. Reason, Apr 2, 2026
  3. Trump's promised manufacturing boom is a bust so far The Washington Post, Jan 15, 2026
  4. Trump Administration Promised a Manufacturing Revival in 2026. Just Released First-Half Data Show It Isn't Happening American Economic Liberties Project, Aug 1, 2026