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Quick White House Twitter Reaction on Jobs Report May Break a Rule Sean Spicer’s Quick Twitter Reaction to Jobs Report May Break a Rule
(about 4 hours later)
The enthusiastic reaction of the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, was understandable on Friday when the Labor Department reported a gain of 235,000 jobs. “Great news for American workers,” he proclaimed, “in first report for @POTUS Trump.” Oops.
The enthusiastic reaction of Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, was understandable on Friday when the Labor Department reported a gain of 235,000 jobs. “Great news for American workers,” he proclaimed, “in first report for @POTUS Trump.”
But that message on Twitter, posted 22 minutes after the Labor Department report, may have violated a federal rule barring executive branch employees from publicly commenting on principal economic indicators for at least one hour after the official release time.But that message on Twitter, posted 22 minutes after the Labor Department report, may have violated a federal rule barring executive branch employees from publicly commenting on principal economic indicators for at least one hour after the official release time.
Announced in the Federal Register on Sept. 25, 1985 — when Ronald Reagan was president — the rule was adopted “to preserve the distinction between the policy-neutral release of data by statistical agencies and their interpretation by policy officials,” and avoid affecting “financial and commodity markets,” according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, part of the Office of Management and Budget. Announced in the Federal Register on Sept. 25, 1985, when Ronald Reagan was president, the rule was adopted “to preserve the distinction between the policy-neutral release of data by statistical agencies and their interpretation by policy officials,” and to avoid affecting “financial and commodity markets,” according to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, part of the Office of Management and Budget.
The White House receives the jobs data before its release.The White House receives the jobs data before its release.
Jason Furman, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in President Barack Obama’s second term, said Friday by email: “The interpretation of our administration (like Clinton and Bush) was that this applied to POTUS. There were times they wanted Obama to comment, his flight or whatever was taking off at 9:20 and they would hold off until 9:30 so he could comment then.”Jason Furman, the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in President Barack Obama’s second term, said Friday by email: “The interpretation of our administration (like Clinton and Bush) was that this applied to POTUS. There were times they wanted Obama to comment, his flight or whatever was taking off at 9:20 and they would hold off until 9:30 so he could comment then.”
Mr. Spicer was probably only following President Trump’s lead. At 8:41 a.m., 11 minutes after the report’s 8:30 release, Mr. Trump reposted a tweet made by the conservative website Drudge Report that linked to a news report with the comment “GREAT AGAIN: +235,000.” At a White House briefing on Friday afternoon, Mr. Spicer addressed the issue with self-deprecation. “Don’t make me make the podium move,” he told a questioner, alluding to a parody of his briefing style on “Saturday Night Live.”
He said that while “I understand the rule,” he felt his post had caused no market disruption because the news was already out. “I apologize if we were a little excited, and we’re so excited to see so many Americans back to work,” he added.
Mr. Spicer was probably only following President Trump’s lead. At 8:41 a.m., 11 minutes after the report’s 8:30 release, Mr. Trump reposted a Twitter message sent by the conservative website Drudge Report that linked to a news report with the comment “GREAT AGAIN: +235,000.”