President Trump has withdrawn his nomination for right-wing economist E.J. Antoni, who had called a Nazi warship “hard not to love,” to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The White House did not give a reason for Antoni’s withdrawal this week, which came shortly before the federal government shut down. Antoni has not commented about either his nomination or his withdrawal on social media.

Other economists had criticized the Heritage Foundation staffer for what was seen as a desire to politicize the monthly U.S. jobs report, which the nominated position would oversee. He was also present at the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots as a “bystander” who did not enter the Capitol, according to the White House. The position would have required Senate confirmation.

During his regular appe

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