Trump says he hopes George Floyd 'looking down' and seeing today’s jobs numbers as 'a great day for him'
Donald Trump has said he hopes
George Floyd is "looking down right now" and saying the decline in US unemployment announced on Friday is a "great thing that's happening for our country".
The nation's unemployment rate saw a surprise decline following the
coronavirus pandemic but remains higher than during the Great Recession, prompting the president to state that a strong economy was central to improving racial tensions.
His remarks follow Thursday's memorial for Mr Floyd, who was killed by police on Memorial Day after an officer forced his knee on the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes while facing the ground in handcuffs.
The president said: "Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying, 'This is a great thing that's happening for our country. It's a great day for him, it's a great day for everybody. It's a great day for everybody. This is a great, great day."
Asked how the rate of unemployment among black Americans can be considered a "victory" as it continues to increase, the president told White House reporter Yamiche Alcindor, "You are something."