MARINETTE, Wisconsin \u2014 President Trump<\/a> promoted his ability to lead the U.S. on an economic comeback Thursday at a shipbuilding plant in this swing state where he trails Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder this administration, American workers like you are national treasures \u2014 that\u2019s why we\u2019re protecting our defense industrial base,\u201d the president told Wisconsin workers at Fincantieri<\/a> Marinette Marine shipyard, which was awarded a $5 billion contract to build 10 new guided-missile frigates for the Navy.<\/p>\n

He said the U.S. military was \u201cvery tired from fighting endless wars\u201d when he became president and embarked on a defense buildup.<\/p>\n

The new ships, he said, will convey the message around the world that \u201cAmerican might is second to none.\u201d<\/p>\n

The contract is expected to generate about 1,000 jobs in the community, which turned out with flags, bunting and Trump 2020 signs along the president\u2019s motorcade route.<\/p>\n

Mr. Trump<\/a> won the swing state of Wisconsin in 2016, but he\u2019s trailing Mr. Biden by 8 percentage points in a poll by Marquette University this week.<\/p>\n

The president leaned into electoral politics in his outdoor speech before hundreds, saying Democrats were \u201ca little crazy\u201d and tougher to deal with than foreign nations led by strongmen, including China, Russia and North Korea.<\/p>\n

The president said the Wisconsin plant was down to a few dozen workers not long ago, but it\u2019s rebounding with the new Navy contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world is watching you,\u201d he told workers. \u201cOur nation is very proud of Wisconsin.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the town is helping the U.S. create a Navy that \u201cwill be bigger and stronger than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four company executives took Mr. Trump<\/a>, trade adviser Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on a half-hour tour of the Fincantieri<\/a> plant. The executives wore masks, while the president and his advisers did not.<\/p>\n

Mr. Trump<\/a> said the plant wasn\u2019t in good shape but had rebounded under a lengthy contract with the Navy. He extolled the U.S.-made ships after viewing a model of a Navy vessel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re magnificent, fast, with tremendous firepower, all built in Wisconsin, so we\u2019re very happy with [that],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The president put on his salesman hat in his speech, claiming he personally changed the design of Navy ship to make it a \u201clike a yacht with missiles on it, OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s, like, beautiful,\u201d Mr. Trump<\/a> said. \u201cWe\u2019ll always live by two simple rules \u2014 buy American and hire American.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr. Biden, the former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee for president, said he deserves credit for progress in the area and that Mr. Trump<\/a> should accept blame for recent turmoil.<\/p>\n

\u201cDonald Trump<\/a> is in Marinette to take credit for Obama-Biden Administration-fueled successes in an attempt to paper over the fact that Wisconsin has been bleeding blue-collar manufacturing jobs over the past few weeks,\u201d the Biden campaign said. \u201cInstead of offering real relief to working families, he\u2019s trying to claim credit for progress in Marinette he did not build.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearly 1.5 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday, exceeding a Wall Street estimate of 1.35 million. California contributed the biggest surge, as nationwide claims stood above 1 million for the 14th consecutive week.<\/p>\n

The overall number of those who were receiving unemployment benefits, or \u201ccontinuing claims,\u201d fell by 767,000, however, to 19.52 million, signaling the rate of layoffs is slowing but still uncomfortably high.<\/p>\n

The Commerce Department also confirmed that the U.S. economy shrank at an annualized rate of 5% in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow acknowledged the struggle Thursday, but said he was still in the camp that\u2019s forecasting a quick, \u201cv-shaped\u201d economic recovery as states relax their coronavirus-related lockdowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still looking for a strong second-half rebound \u2014 20% percent-plus [growth],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr. Trump<\/a> is trying to highlight America\u2019s \u201ctransition to greatness\u201d as it climbs out of the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. He is also trying to rev up his reelection campaign by restarting rallies.<\/p>\n

Yet a coronavirus surge across the South and West is complicating the effort.<\/p>\n

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he is pausing his state\u2019s reopening plan even as Mr. Trump<\/a> and Vice President Mike Pence touted an \u201cAmerican comeback\u201d in the Midwest.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll 50 states have started to open up our economies again,\u201d Mr. Pence said at Lordstown Motors in Ohio. \u201cWhile you see in the news over the past week or so we have rising cases and outbreaks in several southern states, I want to assure you that our task force and our entire administration is working continuously with leaders in those states to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he will be traveling to Texas and Arizona in the coming days to meet with governors and health officials.<\/p>\n

At the White House, Mr. Kudlow said one thing is for sure \u2014 the U.S. is not going to shut the lights off again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not shut the economy down \u2014 we\u2019re not getting that advice from the health people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u2981 Tom Howell Jr. reported from Washington. David Sherfinski also contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n