Trump-Style Statistical Manipulation; Hiding Facts by Displaying Numbers
Dr. Fouad Izadi, in an interview with the Foreign Relations Strategic Council website, noted the historical trend of governments instrumentally using economic statistics, stating: “Trump has demonstrated in both his presidential terms that he uses economic statistics not as informational tools, but as propaganda instruments. While recent government statistics indicate 3% economic growth in the second quarter of 2025 and relative labor market stability, revisions by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal a serious decline in employment during May and June—258,000 jobs fewer than initial figures.”
The University of Tehran professor added: “Labor force participation has fallen to its lowest level since November 2022, and the unemployment rate has increased. Simultaneously, the Trump administration uses direct political pressure to impose its narrative on statistical institutions—just as it pressured Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, to lower interest rates.”
In the view of this American affairs analyst, “Such manipulation of the economic narrative not only erodes public trust but also weakens expert institutions, posing the greatest threat to America’s independent statistical and monetary bodies, which are no longer trusted by the public or global investors.”

Punitive Tariffs: A Burden on the American People
Dr. Izadi emphasized the broad effects of Trump’s tariff policies: “During Trump’s second term—unlike his first, which saw some tariff balance—unprecedented tariffs of 10% to 41% on imported goods have been implemented. The effective tariff rate has now reached about 18%, unprecedented in the last 90 years.”
He continued: “Contrary to popular belief, tariffs have harmed American consumers more than foreign companies. According to a Goldman Sachs report, approximately 80% of tariff costs have been borne by domestic companies and consumers. Rising food prices, healthcare and housing costs, and debt pressures are the most direct consequences of these policies.” The American affairs analyst added: “63% of Americans in surveys identify Trump as the primary cause of rising food prices. This means not only have the policies failed, but the administration also denies responsibility.”
When asked why financial markets have not yet shown severe negative reactions, Izadi stated: “Markets move short-term on optimism and limited data. Currently, investment growth in artificial intelligence has sustained parts of the economy and delayed a complete collapse. But this technological growth constitutes a very small portion of the broader economy.”
He explained: “Stockpiling goods before tariffs, expansionary government policies, and manipulating expectations have delayed the visible impact of damages. But these policies act like painkillers; signs like falling employment growth and rising unemployment in July herald the onset of real consequences.” From this University of Tehran professor’s perspective, “Sustainable long-term economic growth relies on public trust and a free trade system—not tariff wars and politically pressured statistical manipulation. Thus, Trump thinks he can manage the economy like a TV show, with noise. But economics deals with reality, not illusion.”

Why Aren’t Trump’s Statistics Accepted? Elite Warnings and Public Distrust
Fouad Izadi highlighted the U.S. public atmosphere, stressing that “the gap between people’s lived reality and official statistics has led to a crisis of governmental legitimacy, as survey results clearly show. Only 40% of Americans approve of Trump, and a majority hold him responsible for inflation and their diminished purchasing power.”
Fouad Izadi also noted the crucial role of media and elites in exposing this situation: “Across the U.S. media landscape—from The New York Times to CNN—economic experts have repeatedly protested the Trump administration’s statistical deception. Even research centers like the Century Foundation have warned that Trump’s policies weaken regulatory bodies and leave consumers defenseless against corporate greed.” The University of Tehran professor added in another part of his analysis: “Official government statistics, if inconsistent with reality, not only become ineffective but transform into tools of public distrust. This distrust is the largest capital drain on the U.S. economy.”
Overall, Fouad Izadi’s analysis presents a distinct picture of the gap between the official narrative and economic reality in the U.S. during Donald Trump’s second term—a gap whose consequences are visible not only in Americans’ livelihoods but also in global relations and the stability of the international economic order. What is unfolding now is not economic success but an intelligent concealment of failures—a concealment that will sooner or later impose heavy costs on America and the world.