Economist Joseph Stiglitz Criticizes Trump's Interference with Economic Data Integrity

Following a disappointing jobs report released on Friday, President Trump dismissed the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz commented to Ali Velshi that dismissing poor economic data is akin to operating a vehicle without an odometer—ignoring the indicators doesn't resolve the underlying issues. Drawing from his experience on President Bill Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, Stiglitz recounted how Clinton once tried to influence his economic analysis. He emphasized that maintaining the independence of statistical agencies is crucial and that political interference compromises this integrity. While Clinton accepted this stance, Stiglitz warns that Trump's actions, including pressure on agencies like the BLS and Federal Reserve, threaten to undermine confidence in the U.S. dollar and the broader economy.