Trump dismisses the employment figures, adhering to his own strategy of debunking unfavorable statistics
In a series of events that have raised concerns about the integrity of data and transparency, President Donald Trump's administration has been under scrutiny for its handling of various reports and statistics.
Last month, the July jobs report revisions painted a distressing picture of the economy, with a sharp slowdown in hiring. This has led to concerns from economists such as Betsey Stevenson, a University of Michigan economist and a former chief economist at the Labor Department, who expressed worry that the firing of the labor statistics commissioner might reduce the reliability of the data.
Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, countered these concerns, suggesting that the downward revisions in the jobs report had credibility issues and that Trump is focused on getting dependable numbers. However, Trump's history of dismissing data that reflects poorly on him and extolling or fabricating more favorable numbers has been well-documented.
The White House's transparency is also being questioned, as taxpayer-funded reports on climate change issues disappeared from government websites in July. The White House maintains that it has operated with complete openness, but this claim is hard to reconcile with the removal of such reports.
Trump has a history of manipulating data to suit his narrative. In 2019, he displayed a map in the Oval Office that had been altered with a black Sharpie to include Alabama in the potential path of Hurricane Dorian, despite forecasters stating Alabama was not at risk. The White House's social media posts have also been criticized for misleading statements. For instance, an image posted with the caption, "The Most Transparent President in History," had Trump with his back to the camera and covered in shadows, visibly blocking out most of the light in front of him.
The challenge of reliable data extends beyond economic figures to basic information on climate change and scientific research. The White House's decision to stop posting reports on climate change, cancel studies on vaccine access, and remove data on gender identity from government sites has raised alarm bells.
Moreover, Trump's administration has been accused of undermining trust in election data and processes. The administration's approach, which includes abusing access to voter files, pressuring state officials to perform questionable voter purges, and mishandling sensitive voter data, risks exposing election systems to political and foreign interference.
In a lawsuit brought by the state of New York, it was ruled that Trump and his company deceived banks, insurers, and others by massively overvaluing their assets and exaggerating their net worth. Trump's denial and distortion of facts, such as his claims that the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections were rigged, despite losing both elections, further erode public trust in the data and processes that underpin our democracy.
As the country grapples with the pandemic and its economic fallout, ensuring the reliability and transparency of data is more important than ever. Economists like Jed Kolko, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, stress the importance of ensuring federal statistics are trustworthy for both government policymakers and companies making hiring and investment decisions. Trump's administration's approach to data raises serious questions about its commitment to this essential principle.
[1] Mueller Report, Volume I, Chapter I, Section A, https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf [2] Brennan Center for Justice, "The Trump Administration's Efforts to Undermine Election Security," https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/trump-administrations-efforts-undermine-election-security
- Despite the concerns about the government's handling of reports and statistics, such as the July jobs report revisions, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, maintains that the data is credible.
- Last month's job report revisions showed a sharp slowdown in hiring, causing worry among economists, including Betsey Stevenson, due to the firing of the labor statistics commissioner, who might impact the report's reliability.
- The White House's transparency is being questioned, as taxpayer-funded reports on climate change issues disappeared from government websites, raising concerns about the administration's commitment to openness.
- Kevin Hassett countered concerns regarding the jobs report revisions, suggesting that credibility issues existed within the downward revisions, not the report itself.
- The White House's social media posts have been criticized for misleading statements, such as claiming to be the "Most Transparent President in History" while having his back turned and covered in shadows.
- Trump's history of dismissing unfavorable data, such as Hurricane Dorian's path, has been well-documented, raising questions about his administration's handling of facts and figures.
- The challenge of reliable data extends to basic information on climate change and scientific research, with the White House's decision to stop posting reports on climate change, cancel vaccine studies, and remove data on gender identity from government sites raising alarm bells.
- Trump's administration has been accused of undermining trust in election data and processes, including abusing voter files, pressuring state officials to perform voter purges, and mishandling sensitive voter data, risking political and foreign interference.
- Trump's denial and distortion of facts, such as his claims that the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections were rigged, despite losing both elections, further erode public trust in data and processes that underpin our democracy.
- With the country grappling with the pandemic and its economic fallout, ensuring the reliability and transparency of data, such as federal statistics, is crucial for both government policymakers and businesses making hiring and investment decisions.
- In a lawsuit brought by the state of New York, it was ruled that Trump had deceived banks, insurers, and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth.
- To combat the challenge of reliable data, personal growth, education-and-self-development, and career-development resources like mindfulness practices, goal-setting, and skills training can support individuals in discerning facts from misinformation in today's fast-paced and complex world.
