President Trump has inaccurately claimed "huge drops" and record-low unemployment for Black workers, despite current rates being higher than during his first term. Black unemployment currently hovers around 6.6%, historically higher than other racial groups, with few exceptions. New York City faces a particularly severe Black unemployment rate of 8.8%, the highest among diverse U.S. cities, where only white workers saw employment improve last year. Other racial groups, like Hispanic and BIPOC workers, also experienced increased unemployment, reaching over 7% in early 2026. The gap between Black and white unemployment has widened notably to 5.6 percentage points, a trend observed in cities like Los Angeles as well. This rise in Black unemployment coincides with sustained attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump's anti-DEI policies and federal layoffs disproportionately affected Black workers, who are overrepresented in public sector jobs. In New York City, the decline in blue-collar sectors like manufacturing and construction has further hurt Black employment. Young Black workers also face significantly higher unemployment rates compared to the overall youth unemployment decline. Experts suggest the labor market is still recovering from the adverse effects of the Trump administration's anti-DEI policies. The persistent high unemployment for Black workers indicates a slower recovery due to weakened DEI programs.