Secretary of Commerce Reflects on Job Growth

During a recent policy event hosted by Breitbart News, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick shared his thoughts on the encouraging job numbers announced on Wednesday. He stated that President Donald Trump is contributing to what he calls “the greatest growth America has ever seen.”

Lutnick, speaking in Washington, D.C., mentioned that according to the Labor Department, the U.S. added 130,000 jobs in January—significantly above the expected figure. The unemployment rate also dipped to 4.3%.

Economics editor John Carney from Breitbart News noted that economists had anticipated only 55,000 new jobs, with predictions varying widely—from zero to 130,000. Initially, the unemployment rate was expected to hold steady at 4.4%. The report had been postponed due to the partial government shutdown.

Interestingly, all the job growth came from the private sector, which saw an increase of 172,000 jobs. In contrast, federal government jobs decreased by 34,000, and state and local employment dropped by 8,000.

Alex Marlowe, Breitbart’s Editor-in-Chief, humorously remarked that the site’s preferred economic indicator is the significant reduction in federal payrolls.

Lutnick elaborated on the mechanisms of economic growth, suggesting that imposing tariffs to cut imports and promoting exports by opening foreign markets are key drivers. “This, I think, is how we foster growth,” he said.

He expressed optimism about future growth, predicting 6% in the first quarter of 2026 for what he referred to as “the world’s largest economy.”

When comparing the United States’ rapid economic growth to the sluggish performance of the United Kingdom and the European Union, which both had growth rates below 1%, Lutnick also pointed out that Japan’s economy is actually shrinking.

“We’re going to be who we are,” he asserted. “If we claim to be the greatest economy and country in the world, then let’s ensure we grow accordingly. It’s vital to take care of the American people.”