As the self-anointed job creator in chief, Donald Trump rarely misses a chance to use the presidential podium or his alternative podium, Twitter, to take credit for employment being created or retained in America.

Image Donald J. Trump toured a Carrier plant in Indianapolis in December. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

But a thorough review of Mr. Trump’s celebrations reveals that virtually none of the pronouncements involved jobs generated or preserved by the new president’s actions. Indeed, they mostly consisted of a rehash of old decisions — some with origins dating back as many as six years — or plans made independently by companies for their own business reasons.

Thus companies from General Motors to Exxon Mobil have been congratulated by Mr. Trump for what they were already doing.