Trump, who billed the event as a news conference but took no questions from reporters, also defended his handling of the coronavirus, reiterating his decision to bar travel from China and urging jurisdictions with remaining restrictions in place to lift them.

But the economic numbers capped a week most notable for days of protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. And Trump's appearance from a White House surrounded by a widening perimeter of fences fortifying the compound against the expectation of more mass demonstrations served as a reminder of those events.

He said a strong economy was his plan to address race relations in the U.S. and pointed to the unemployment report as a "great day in terms of equality."

The report, however, showed large gaps in joblessness among whites and minorities. While the rate for whites dipped last month to 12.4%, the unemployment rate among black workers increased 0.1%, to 16.8%. And 17.6% of Hispanics are unemployed, according to the report.

Trump also addressed the ongoing protests and called Friday a "great day" for Floyd. Floyd died after a police officer, who has now been charged in his death, kneeled on his neck for nine minutes.

"Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country. There's a great day for him. It's a great day for everybody. There's a great day for everybody," Trump said.