PHOENIX –  Trump called today’s job numbers “joyous” and a “tremendous success.” Republicans are celebrating 21 million Americans unemployed and an unemployment rate of 13.3%, that’s on par with the Great Depression. Another 81,000 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Arizona last week with new applications pushing the total number of people who have sought help since the week of March 21 to 824,412.

According to today’s numbers, African American unemployment is 16.8% and Hispanic unemployment is 17.6% — near record highs and still far higher than the 12.4% rate for white Americans.

Meanwhile, new cases of COVID-19 nationwide are still hovering around 21,000 a day. Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Senators last month that the United States could face even more “suffering and death” from the virus if states rush to reopen businesses too early.

It’s unclear how many jobs lost as a result of the pandemic are permanently lost and whether the reopenings in states will create a second surge of COVID-19 deaths. Some economists forecast the rate could remain in the double-digits through the November elections and into next year.

“Americans gaining their jobs back is vital, especially for struggling families. But this public health crisis has not subsided and people’s lives are still in danger,” said Matt Grodsky, Arizona Democratic Party spokesman, “On Trump’s watch, over 100,000 Americans have died, millions of Americans are out of work, and businesses are continuing to close across the country. This is no time for celebration. But this President is more interested in grandstanding than working to keep Americans safe.”

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