Summers criticizes Trump for purges, says he exceeds Nixon's misconduct

Larry Summers criticizes Donald Trump for his recent actions, suggesting they surpass the misconduct of even Nixon. This week, Trump dismissed the Labor Department's commissioner following a report indicating a slowdown in hiring, accusing the official of manipulating data for political purposes. Summers responded to these claims on ABC's "This Week," asserting that such numbers are produced by large teams adhering to strict procedures, making manipulation highly unlikely. He further expressed concern that Trump's dismissals and purges resemble authoritarian tactics, comparable to Nixon's abuses of power. Summers emphasized that firing statisticians and targeting institutions threaten democratic norms and could lead to a slide toward authoritarianism. This critique comes amid Trump's recent denial of visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island, despite longstanding associations with Epstein, and his naming of Bill Clinton and Summers as former guests of Epstein.