Still Fuming Over a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Finds Some Numbers He Likes

President Trump finally got the economic numbers he wanted.

Still bristling about last week’s less-than-impressive report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mr. Trump summoned reporters into the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon to present them with more favorable data.

During an impromptu news conference, the president displayed charts from Stephen Moore, an economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, that he said proved his economy was better than that of his predecessor, President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

“All new numbers,” Mr. Trump said, holding up a chart.

The typically humdrum task of counting jobs, income levels and other economic data has become decidedly dramatic during the second Trump administration. For months, Mr. Trump and his top allies had praised the Bureau of Labor Statistics when it showed strong job growth. But after the bureau put out weak job numbers last week, Mr. Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, the agency’s commissioner, and claimed that the figures were rigged. (Instead of offering proof, he said it was “my opinion.”)

The firing of the commissioner, whose job was merely to count the data accurately, left the president in search of some different data, more to his liking.

Enter Mr. Moore.

It just so happened that the Heritage Foundation economist had been crunching some census data, and he began assembling the figures into graphs that he knew would please the president.

Mr. Moore said his numbers were based on unpublished data from the Census Bureau, which means they are difficult to verify independently. But Mr. Trump seemed convinced.

“I showed him about five or six of these charts, and he was excited about the good news,” Mr. Moore said in an interview. “So he said let’s have an impromptu press conference.”

Reporters were already gathered nearby for an event honoring Purple Heart recipients that was supposed to start any minute. But that event would have to wait. The president wanted the media to see these charts first.

Mr. Trump waved the reporters into the Oval Office. “We’re going to be standing here for this,” he said, motioning to the posters.

“Steve, could you say a few words about the various charts, please?” the president asked.

“I was telling the president that he did the right thing in calling for a new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Mr. Moore said.

Mr. Trump then repeated his claim that the bureau was faking jobs data to hurt him politically.

“I think they did it purposely,” he said.

Mr. Moore then displayed a chart that Mr. Trump said was his favorite. It showed that during Mr. Trump’s second term, the average household income had risen $1,174.

“An incredible number,” Mr. Trump said, pointing to the poster. “Just came out.”

“Just came out,” Mr. Moore repeated.

“And if I would have said this, no one would have believed me,” the president added.

After Mr. Moore finished explaining that chart to the media, Mr. Trump took the poster and held it in front of his chest for the press to get a better look.

“There’s your number,” he said.

He then carefully placed the poster board on top of others like it stacked on the Resolute Desk.

“These numbers just came out, by the way,” the president added.

Before leaving the Oval Office for the event with military heroes, Mr. Trump dug through the pile of posters on his desk one last time.

He picked up his favorite of the charts, the one that showed income on the rise.

He held it up in front of his chest and turned to the photographers, so they could take his picture with the latest, more flattering figures.

“This chart is pretty amazing, right here,” he said. “All new numbers.”