Ex-Obama Adviser Claims Trump’s Actions Surpass Nixon’s in Severity After BLS Chief Dismissal

Former Obama adviser Larry Summers criticized President Donald Trump's decision to dismiss the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) head following disappointing employment data, asserting that Trump's actions exceeded those of President Nixon in severity. Summarizing his concerns on ABC's "This Week," Summers compared the firing to Nixon's unlawful removal of a Watergate investigator, which led to the notorious "Saturday Night Massacre," and warned that such actions threaten democratic institutions. The controversy arose after Trump dismissed BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer in response to a July jobs report showing only 73,000 new jobs and revisions indicating fewer jobs in previous months. Trump accused McEntarfer of manipulating the data and emphasized the need for accurate employment figures, vowing to replace her with more qualified personnel. Summers dismissed these claims as unfounded, emphasizing that the BLS adhered to rigorous procedures and that the data aligns with private sector reports. He expressed concern that political interference in statistical agencies signals a slide toward authoritarianism, citing examples such as threatening journalists and undermining academi...