Everyone is happier if everyone works harder. It doesn't necessarily have to be that he's nefarious or hypocritical. Sure, in the short term people will be happier if they work less (assuming they dislike their jobs). But arguably he might be looking out for everyones wellness function (not trying to find ways for the country to work hard while he's retired), since people working hard and America growing will yield greater individual happiness than everyone taking it easy. (Not to mention the fact that the US is in an inescapable economic arms race with China and other nations, which will make things even worse in the even longer term if stagnation continues.)