Former President Barack Obama shared an uplifting New Year’s message on Twitter this Saturday morning, pointing observers’ attention towards the possibilities that lie ahead. Through setbacks, the Biden administration has already been able to see through significant accomplishments for the American people; White House press secretary Jen Psaki recently summarized these accomplishments as including “the American Rescue Plan, the fastest decrease in unemployment in U.S. history, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, over 200 million Americans vaccinated, schools reopened, the fastest rollout of vaccines to children anywhere in the world, and historic appointments to the Federal judiciary.”
Another sign of strength for our economy as more Americans get back to work, and as we build on the momentum of this year's economic recovery. This time last year, 823k Americans were filing new jobless claims each week on average, now those are down over 75% to under 200k: https://t.co/SIQJx9IYhY
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) December 30, 2021
The American Rescue Plan is the COVID-19-tied, economic relief package that Biden signed into law early last year. Economic indicators in the U.S. are continuing to look positive, with unemployment levels remaining remarkably low compared to those seen throughout most of the pandemic, and corporate profits for Biden’s first year having hit the highest first-year level seen by any U.S. president of the last 50 years or so. Obama commented as follows:
‘I’m hopeful about 2022. This year will undoubtedly have its challenges, just like 2021 did. But we’ve made it this far—and I still believe we can build a brighter future together. Happy New Year!’
I’m hopeful about 2022. This year will undoubtedly have its challenges, just like 2021 did. But we’ve made it this far—and I still believe we can build a brighter future together. Happy New Year!
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 1, 2022
In stark contrast, Trump closed out the year by spreading his usual vitriol. In a statement issued on December 30, he ranted that “[more] cases of COVID-19, sometimes referred to as the China Virus, are recorded in the U.S. today than ever before—not even close, and the Fake News Media refuses to print the real numbers.” First of all: the people who “sometimes refer” to COVID-19 as “the China Virus” include him and are meaninglessly perpetuating dangerous racism. The virus has no nationality, although that’s not even the crux of what he’s getting at — he and those who use the phrase are associating the virus with Chinese people, which is a despicable thing to do. Meanwhile, Trump’s claim that media outlets are refusing to print the “real numbers” of new COVID-19 cases is an utter lie. For one, The New York Times has a detailed, nationwide breakdown of new COVID-19 cases that is easily accessible.
358 days ago terrorists ransacked the US Capitol and *hours later* 138-of-202 (68%) House republicans voted to make trump a dictator. They tried to finish the rioters’ job and end democracy. Never forget it.
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) January 1, 2022
