Donald Trump Says US Jobs Report Showing Slump In Hirings Was 'Rigged'
The monthly report showed only 73,000 job additions in July, while stating that 258,000 less jobs were created in May and June than previously reported.
The monthly jobs report that point towards a slump in hirings in the United States in July, and revises the total employment generated in May and June, was "rigged", US President Donald Trump said on Monday.
Trump's claim, via a post on social media, comes a couple of days after he announced the removal of Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under whose watch the official report was released.
"Last weeks job’s report was rigged, just like the numbers prior to the presidential election were rigged. That’s why, in both cases, there was massive, record setting revisions, in favor of the Radical Left Democrats," Trump posted on Truth Social.
The contentious report, released on Friday, showed only 73,000 jobs were added in July. It also revised the estimated employment creation in May and June, stating that 258,000 less jobs were created in those two months than previously reported by the labor bureau.
Earlier, the agency had projected 125,000 job additions in May and 147,000 in June. The same have been downgraded to 19,000 and 14,000, respectively. Amid the sharp revisions, the report showed a marginal uptick in July's unemployment rate to 4.2% from 4.1% in the preceding month.
"Those big adjustments were made to cover up, and level out, the FAKE political numbers that were CONCOCTED in order to make a great Republican Success look less stellar!!! I will pick an exceptional replacement (sic)," Trump said.
McEntarfer, who assumed the charge of labor bureau in January 2024, was nominated under the tenure of former president Joe Biden. Normally, the appointees serve for a four-year period. Her appointment was confirmed by the US Senate, which had approved the move by a vote of 86:8. Among those who voted in favour was JD Vance, who is currently the vice president under the Trump administration.
The Democrats condemned Trump's decision to fire McEntarfer following the release of July jobs report. "What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger,” Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday.
