CNN anchor Pamela Brown confronted Trump Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-Deremer over tariffs and a potential recession after a stronger-than-expected jobs report.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report for April came in with a relatively flat 177,000 jobs created — but still beat expectations.

On Friday’s edition of CNN’s The Situation Room, Brown pressed Chavez-Deremer on the impact on that growth if President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain in effect, criticism from unions, and voters’ fears of a recession”

BROWN: As you know, the jobs report is backward-looking. It’s not forward-looking. And some economists say that this sort of stronger-than-expected jobs report is probably not going to stick if the current tariff policy stays what it is, particularly as it pertains to China.

How confident are you that a jobs report like this will continue?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Oh, I’m very confident.

The president in his tariffs talks was very clear. Fair trade practices is what he promised the American people, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody who listened to the president on the campaign trail that he’s now delivering on those promises.

He made a promise to the American people that he would grow this economy, it would be strong. My job in this equation is to deliver the American worker, labor, union workers. We want to make sure that we can help our businesses comply with the laws, but we want to assist them in growing the economy. We want to be their allies, not their adversaries.

That’s why I’m positive about this jobs report, and I think it’s going to continue to grow month after month.

BROWN: Right, but some union workers, while many of them have been very supportive of President Trump, there has been some concern.

I want to share the concern of dockworkers on the West Coast. Those workers are expecting a drop of Chinese imports within days. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union released a statement saying — quote — “We demand fair trade policies that put working-class Americans first, protect jobs and reduce taxes on the American people, not trade policies dictated by a president’s whims.”

How do you respond to that?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, the president is certainly supported by a lot of the unions. That’s who elected him.

That’s why he was so dominant in this win. I have been supported by the trade unions. We are going to protect the American worker. We want to make sure that they have the wages that they deserve and that they’re protected. And so this sounds like — that quote sounded exactly in line with the president.

So we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that the work force is strong across the sectors.

BROWN: Well, but they’re criticizing the president. But they’re criticizing.

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: No, exactly what you said, that we want fair trade practices, which is exactly what the president has done.

I mean, the president has gone and negotiated with these other countries for these fair trade practices. The transition time is right here among us, and we’re seeing the work force grow because of it.

The president knows his best for this economy. He’s built a team to do so, and I’m looking forward to continue the work with him so that we can deliver the American people — to the American people with the promises that he made.

BROWN: Before we leave, I just wanted to follow up on that, because the union that I just talked about, yes, they said we want fair trade practices, but they’re concerned. They feel like the trade practices are reckless and hurting them as it pertains to the Chinese trade war.

But just to follow up quickly, a lot of Americans are really concerned about a recession happening. What is your concern on that front?

CHAVEZ-DEREMER: Well, certainly, with this jobs report has been positive, I’m not an economist, but I have surrounded myself and had discussions with my colleagues, and I have great economists right here at the Department of Labor.

We see no reason that a recession is anywhere near. And so, again, as we capitalize on what the president has enlisted us to do, it’s to be out on the ground, listen to the American worker, listen to the American unions, listen to the work force, and say, what is it that we need?

And we’re going to do everything we can to strengthen that work force, skill, reskill, and make sure that we have the work force that delivers for Americans first.

Watch above via CNN’s The Situation Room.

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