During a recent event with Breitbart News, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed how President Donald Trump’s policies could lead to job creation that would drive businesses to compete for workers, ultimately boosting wages. Duffy emphasized that bringing back jobs could enhance competition within the workforce, allowing salaries to rise without harming a company’s competitiveness.
The conversation is particularly timely as Democrats are positioning themselves as advocates for “affordability” with the 2026 elections approaching.
Trump also addressed wage increases at a Florida business conference, stating, “These are things we need to talk about.” He pointed out that worker wages are climbing at the fastest rate in sixty years. Since his presidency began, factory workers’ average wages have gone up by $1,300, with construction workers seeing increases of $2,200 this year, and miners’ salaries rising nearly $5,000.
He remarked that the wage hikes don’t represent a heavy financial burden for companies. Duffy, however, avoided discussing immigration policies during this event, instead highlighting the importance of a balanced labor market to ensure fair negotiations between employers and employees.
Earlier, though, Duffy criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration strategies, arguing that they’ve flooded the market with immigrant drivers, which has negatively impacted the earnings of U.S. truck drivers. He claimed that this influx has severely affected American drivers who once earned decent wages.
Since April, Duffy has worked to eliminate thousands of illegal immigrant drivers from the roads, stating that this would help improve safety and productivity in an industry currently facing challenges due to accidents and low-wage labor fueled by Biden’s undocumented trucking initiatives.
Duffy believes that tight labor markets benefit society as they encourage young individuals to pursue higher-paying jobs. He recounted an experience at a Walmart in Wisconsin during Trump’s first term, where he experienced long checkout lines due to better job opportunities leading workers to leave for higher-paying positions elsewhere. This situation resulted in younger, less experienced cashiers taking their place, illustrating the effect of competitive labor markets.
He expressed a desire for the federal government to assist young people in accessing more job opportunities, highlighting the challenges that arise when young adults face exorbitant costs for housing and vehicles. Duffy pointed out that many people question how they can achieve the American Dream, particularly when it comes to homeownership and starting families amid rising living costs. He firmly believes in the importance of producing safe, affordable housing as a foundation for families and future generations.
Furthermore, he noted the discrepancies faced by young parents trying to balance their aspirations while grappling with housing affordability. Duffy stated that some essential life experiences are unattainable without the means to cover basic expenses.
Since taking office, Trump has imposed restrictions on illegal immigration from the southern border, which has inadvertently affected American wages and increased housing costs. Reports have suggested that this crackdown on immigration has led to a decline in housing market inflation, with many renters seeing relief in pricing and some enjoying extended periods of free rent.
Additionally, Trump has begun actions against companies relying heavily on white-collar visa workers, despite facing opposition from various institutions, including universities and major companies.
