Donald Trump has ordered the firing of the federal government official in charge of labor statistics, hours after data revealed that jobs growth had stalled this summer.
The US president claimed that Erika McEntarfer, commissioner of labor statistics, had “faked” employment figures in the run-up to last year’s election, in a bid to boost Kamala Harris’s chances of victory.
He produced no evidence for this claim, and insisted that the US economy was, in fact, “BOOMING” on his watch.
“We need accurate Jobs Numbers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.”
McEntarfer and the Bureau of Labor Statistics were contacted for comment.
Trump’s abrupt announcement came as administration officials scrambled to explain a lackluster employment report. Not only did jobs growth fail to meet expectations in July, but previous estimates for May and June were significantly revised lower.
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