Trump Critiques Labor Statistics Amid Job Report Controversy

On Friday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he had ordered the dismissal of Labor Statistics Committee Member Erika McEntarfer, following a reported shortage in job numbers for July.

In his social media post, Trump accused McEntarfer of “falsifying employment numbers” as a means to boost former Vice President Kamala Harris’ prospects for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) had just released a report indicating that the U.S. economy only gained 73,000 non-farm payroll jobs in July.

“We have learned that our country’s employment data is being manipulated by Biden’s appointee, Labor Statistics Commissioner Dr. Erica McEntarfer. They attempted to distort figures before the election to improve Kamala’s chances,” Trump stated. He noted past reports from the BLS that inflated job growth figures, citing increases of about 818,000 in March 2024 and 112,000 in August and September prior to the election. He questioned the integrity of these numbers.

The president also mentioned that McEntarfer would be replaced by someone who is “much more capable and qualified.” He emphasized the importance of having accurate employment figures, asserting that they should not be subject to political manipulation. Trump expressed shock at McEntarfer’s claim of only 73,000 new jobs, reiterating that a total of 258,000 jobs had been added over the previous two months.

Additionally, Trump asserted that the economy is “booming” under his leadership, even as the Federal Reserve, led by Chairman Jerome Powell, continues to adjust interest rates. He remarked on the timing of past interest rate cuts and how they related to the political landscape, questioning their effectiveness.

Trump concluded his remarks by thanking his followers for their attention to this issue.