Trump Fires Labor Stats Chief After Revised Jobs Data Sparks GOP Defense

President Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following a disappointing July jobs report that showed only 73,000 jobs added and a rise in unemployment to 4.2%, alongside significant downward revisions to previous months. Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating data to favor the Democratic administration, a claim widely criticized as unfounded by MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and others, who noted that such revisions are routine and not politically motivated. Scarborough and Morning Joe hosts also mocked White House officials and Republican lawmakers for defending the firing, likening their justifications to the implausible propaganda of "Baghdad Bob." Despite Trump's insistence on appointing someone who would provide "honest" data, critics say the firing undermines the credibility of the agency and ignores the inherent complexities in economic data reporting. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the move as restoring integrity to the agency after years of inaccuracy under previous leadership. The controversy highlights tensions between the administration and economic institutions amid broader concerns about the economy and trade policies potentially fueling inflation and slowing growth.