Bessent Defends Weak Jobs Data by Citing Deportations and Border Closure
Updated
Updated · Raw Story · Aug 20
Bessent Defends Weak Jobs Data by Citing Deportations and Border Closure
3 articles · Updated · Raw Story · Aug 20
Summary
On CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued weak U.S. job creation matters less because deportations and a closed border mean the economy "don't need to produce as many jobs."
That defense sought to reframe underperforming labor data as a smaller problem, tying labor demand directly to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Social media backlash was immediate, with critics arguing the economy is slowing regardless of the reason and mocking the idea that fewer jobs are acceptable if fewer workers remain.
The episode underscores how the administration is increasingly linking economic performance to immigration policy as soft jobs numbers draw scrutiny.