Getty Images
President Donald Trump isn’t backing down from his controversial firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a disappointing jobs report.
“It is antiquated, but it is also very political,” Trump said about the position Tuesday morning on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Co-host Joe Kernen tried to convince Trump that firing Dr. Erika McEntarfer after a disappointing jobs report could “undermine confidence” in future reports, given the context of McEntarfer’s ouster. The monthly jobs report is considered one of the most important measures of the US economy.
Trump was unconvinced.
“So, look, it is a highly political situation. It is totally rigged. Smart people know it. People with common sense know it, and a lot of people like to keep their heads under the covers,” Trump said.
In explaining his decision to fire McEntarfer, who was originally appointed by President Joe Biden and received broad bipartisan support during her Senate confirmation, Trump has reupped his previous complaints about BLS data. The president has presented no evidence showing that the data was “rigged” against him.
William Beach, a former Commissioner of Labor Statistics during Trump’s first term, has been a vocal critic of Trump’s decision. Beach, who now works as an economist, has said that commissioners have little actual sway over the jobs numbers, which are already finished before they reach their desks.
“The totally groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, my successor as Commissioner of Labor Statistics at BLS, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau,” Beach wrote on X on Friday.
Kevin Hassett, Trump’s National Economic Council director, has defended Trump’s move. Hassett said the BLS needed “a fresh set of eyes.”
“There have been a bunch of patterns that could make people wonder,” Hassett said Sunday on “Meet the Press.” And I think the most important thing for people to know is that it’s the president’s highest priority that the data be trusted and that people get to the bottom of why these revisions are so unreliable.”
Part of the reason that the BLS has issued significant revisions in recent years is that the response rates to its surveys continue to decline.
Trump also discussed his plans to replace Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term leading the central bank ends next year. Trump said that he is looking closely “both Kevins,” a reference to former Fed Gov. Kevin Warsh and Hassett.
“He’s very good,” Trump said of Warsh, when asked if he had watched Warsh’s recent CNBC appearance.
When pressed, Trump said he would choose between one of four people: “The two Kevins are doing well, and two other people are doing well.” It’s unclear who the other two people are.
Trump did appear to rule out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, whose name has been reported as a potential Powell replacement.
“He does not want it,” Trump said. “He likes being Treasury Secretary. He’s doing a really great job.”
The post Trump doubles down on his decision to fire BLS chief after disappointing jobs report appeared first on Business Insider.
