U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that the administration plans to increase industrial job opportunities through policies aimed at converting laid-off government workers into factory employees.
In an interview with media personality Tucker Carlson on the X platform, Bessent asserted that the United States has enough manpower to fill the thousands of new industrial jobs that Trump seeks to create by imposing high tariffs on imports.
The minister explained that the plan is based on two axes: "On the one hand, the president is restructuring trade policies, and on the other hand, we are reducing excess employment in the government and reducing the federal debt."
He added that these measures will provide the necessary labor for new industries, noting that reliance on artificial intelligence and automation will reduce the need for large-scale human labor.
Bessent pointed out that these policies aim to shift economic weight from the government to the private sector, considering that the US economy under former President Joe Biden was struggling despite growth indicators, saying, "It's like a bodybuilder who takes steroids. While he appears strong on the outside, his internal organs are damaged."
The minister's remarks came following a difficult week for financial markets after Trump announced a new package of tariffs worth up to $600 billion on foreign imports, raising concerns about its negative impact on the economy.
US stock markets saw sharp declines, with the Dow Jones index losing more than 2,200 points in a single session.
Although the industrial sector is the primary beneficiary of these measures, many companies have expressed concern about the increased costs of domestic production. The administration has also sparked controversy by presenting conflicting objectives for the tariffs, claiming that the revenues will be used to fund tax cuts, while these revenues are expected to decrease if companies move their production to the US, as the administration demands.
In an attempt to allay fears, Bessent likened Trump's economic policies to crisis prevention measures, saying, "Just as we reinforce cockpit doors on airplanes to prevent attacks, we are taking these measures to prevent financial disasters."