Chris Christie Criticizes Trump as 'Petulant Child' Over Bureau of Labor Statistics Dismissal

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday, calling him a "petulant child" for dismissing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following the release of disappointing employment data. Christie argued that Trump sought someone to blame after the bureau reported only 73,000 new jobs added in July, with significant downward revisions for May and June, leading Trump to dismiss BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer and accuse her of manipulating the reports. On ABC's This Week, Christie remarked, "This is childish behavior—firing the messenger because you don't like the news." A White House spokesperson defended the bureau's integrity, stating that Trump believes in accurate data for decision-making and aims to restore public trust. The confrontation has added to the ongoing tension between Trump and Christie, who have publicly clashed since 2015. Trump previously announced plans to replace McEntarfer, appointed by President Biden in 2023, without naming a replacement. Christie highlighted the complexity of the data collection process, asserting that it's nearly impossible to rig such figures due to the involvement of many professionals. He...