Trump Fires US Labor Statistics Chief After Weak July Jobs Report

President Donald Trump has fired Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, accusing her of rigging jobs data to make Republicans and himself look bad, though he provided no evidence for these claims. The recent labor market report showed only 73,000 jobs added in July, well below expectations, with May and June figures also revised downward, prompting Trump to label the statistics as manipulated and politically motivated. Economists attribute the weak job growth to Trump’s trade and immigration policies, especially high tariffs, which have created uncertainty for businesses. The firing has raised concerns about the politicization and credibility of US economic data, with experts warning that undermining trust in statistics could harm the economy. Additionally, Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler announced her early resignation, potentially allowing Trump to shape the Fed’s future leadership amid his ongoing criticism of Chairman Jerome Powell's cautious monetary policy. Trump has repeatedly pressured for lower interest rates and expressed frustration with the current economic data and policy decisions.