Summary
Trump says job numbers were faked to help Kamala Harris. I looked into it—and that’s just not true. The numbers were revised like they always are, and blaming career workers for doing their jobs is dangerous. We need facts, not conspiracy.
Written by Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri’s 4th District
Summary: I read Trump’s latest post accusing a Biden appointee of faking job numbers—and I fact-checked every claim. What I found was a mix of half-truths, misunderstanding of basic economic processes, and flat-out conspiracy theory. This kind of disinformation is dangerous. So let’s break it down with real sources and clear facts.
No, Trump—The Jobs Numbers Weren’t “Faked”
Donald Trump is once again blaming civil servants and career experts for numbers he doesn’t like. His latest claim? That a Biden appointee at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) “faked” job numbers to help Kamala Harris win the 2024 election.
That’s false—and dangerous.
Let’s break it down.
Who Is Dr. Erika McEntarfer?
Dr. Erika McEntarfer is the Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. She’s a respected economist and a career government employee—not a political hack. The BLS is a nonpartisan agency, and it operates under strict professional standards.
Her job is to report job numbers—not spin them. The data she shares comes from surveys, business payroll records, and statistical models used for decades by both Republican and Democratic administrations.
What About Those “Fake” Numbers?
In Trump’s post, he claims the BLS overstated job growth by 818,000 jobs in March 2024 and later by 112,000 jobs in August and September. This is actually true—but misleading. The BLS updates past jobs numbers when better data becomes available.
That’s not fraud. That’s just how economics works.
Revisions happen all the time—including during Trump’s own term. Numbers are collected quickly at first, then corrected as more payroll data rolls in. It’s part of the official BLS methodology and has nothing to do with who’s in office.
BLS FAQ on how data is revised
CNBC: 800,000 Jobs Revised Down in 2024
Calling for Her Firing Is Abuse of Power
Trump says he directed his team to fire McEntarfer and replace her with “someone more competent.”
But that’s not how it works. Federal civil servants are protected by merit-based hiring rules. You can’t just fire them because you don’t like the numbers they report.
Doing so could violate federal law.
MSPB: Merit System Protections
Trump Claims the Economy Is “Booming”
He also says the economy is “booming under Trump.”
That’s a stretch. Yes, the economy has grown—but it’s been uneven. Inflation remains high, tariffs are driving up prices, and global markets are shaky. Economists call this a mixed recovery, not a boom.
Bloomberg: GDP Growth Slowing in 2025
Blaming the Fed Is Just More Conspiracy
Trump finishes by accusing the Federal Reserve of cutting interest rates “to help Kamala.”
That’s just not how the Fed works.
The Federal Reserve is an independent institution. It sets interest rates based on inflation, employment, and growth—not who’s running for office. And Jerome Powell? He was appointed by Trump himself.
Federal Reserve: About the Fed
NYT: Fed Interest Rate Moves Explained
Final Word: This Is How Authoritarianism Starts
Blaming honest public servants, pushing conspiracy theories, and demanding firings based on political discomfort? That’s not leadership. That’s authoritarianism.
The job of our government—especially agencies like the BLS and the Fed—is to serve the American people, not any one politician.
We must protect truth and transparency from political attacks. And we need leaders who understand the difference between facts and feelings.
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