U.S. Economy Adds Only 22,000 Jobs in August, Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.3%
The U.S. economy added only 22,000 jobs in August, falling short of the expected 80,000. Sectors like manufacturing and professional services experienced job losses, leading to a slight increase in the unemployment rate from 4.2% in July to 4.3% in August. White House officials acknowledged the disappointing numbers, with Kevin Hassett from the National Economic Council calling it a "little bit of a disappointment." Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer noted that while jobs underperformed slightly, the overall economy remains positive.
President Trump took to Truth Social to address the "Epstein hoax," blaming Democrats for pushing for answers that his supporters are also seeking. He expressed frustration with Congress, including some Republicans, for pursuing transparency on the Epstein case. Democrats are working to gather enough votes, including from Republicans, to pass legislation that would require the Trump administration to release all federal Epstein files.
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to issue an executive order establishing a designation for state sponsors of wrongful detention. This move would allow the U.S. to penalize countries that illegally detain or take U.S. nationals hostage. The measure, similar to the designation of state sponsors of terrorism, would give the State Department tools to punish nations using detained Americans for political leverage and potentially restrict the geographic use of U.S. passports.