On Friday, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing weak July hiring numbers and significant downward revisions to job growth for the last two months; Donald Trump responded by firing its chief.

In firing the head of the agency that produces monthly jobs figures, President Donald Trump alleged that the recent weaker-than-expected numbers were phony and that positive numbers reported before the 2024 election were manipulated to make him look bad.

When the economic news is bad, Trump thinks he can just shoot the messenger. Here’s how the firing played out, as well as analysis and reaction.