“Stubborn Moron”: Trump Blasts Powell, Urges Fed Board to Take Control
Political and market pressure is building on the Federal Reserve after it held interest rates steady for the fifth time.President Trump once again took to social media to criticize Fed Chair Jerome Powell, urging immediate action to cut interest rates.Trump Slams Powell Again, Calls For Board To Assume ControlIn a recent Truth Social post, Trump referred to Powell as a “stubborn moron” and accused him of acting too slowly in responding to economic challenges. Trump has long been critical of Powell, whom he appointed in 2017, particularly over what he sees as overly cautious monetary policy.“Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell must substantially lower interest rates, NOW,” Trump wrote. He added, “If he continues to refuse, the Board should assume control and do what everyone knows has to be done!”This isn’t the first time Trump has gone after Powell. He has been frustrated for years, saying the Fed moves too slowly and is hurting the economy by keeping rates too high. On Thursday, he slammed Powell as “too stupid” and “too political” after the interest rates were held steady. A Test For FedBut can President Trump fire Powell? No, but he does have some influence. According to Grok, an AI chatbot by xAI, the Fed’s Board of Governors can override Chair Powell on interest rate decisions with a majority vote during FOMC meetings. To assume control of the Federal Reserve as suggested, the Board of Governors would need a majority vote to override Chair Powell on policy, like rate cuts, during FOMC meetings. Legally, the President can't directly intervene due to Fed independence, but appointing new governors…Legally, the President cannot directly fire the Fed Chair but by appointing new governors with Senate approval, the White House could shift the balance over time. While Trump can’t remove Powell, he can reshape the Fed’s leadership and apply public pressure, which seems to be growing.His suggestion that the Board should take control challenges the traditional independence of the central bank. It’s unlikely to lead to immediate action but may still rattle the markets.Calls Grow for Fed to Cut Rates SoonAnthony Pompliano called the Fed’s latest move “a big mistake”. With the economy already booming, 3% Q2 GDP growth, high rates are holding back even greater progress. The Fed refuses to cut interest rates, but every American will benefit from lower rates.Eventually the Fed will capitulate. He argues that lower interest rates are ultimately good for all Americans and predicts we could see rate cuts before the end of the year. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender also argues there is no good reason for interest rates to remain high, as even Fed officials admit there is room to cut.The crypto market recently lost momentum as Bitcoin dropped 3% to just under $115K and Ethereum fell nearly 6%. Sentiment weakened after new U.S. tariffs boosted the dollar and inflation fears. With inflation at 2.8%, hopes for a September Fed rate cut are fading, and that may not be great for crypto, which tends to do better with lower interest rates.FAQsCan Trump fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell? No—the President cannot directly fire the Fed Chair due to central bank independence, but can appoint new governors to influence policy over time. Why is Trump pressuring the Fed now? Trump calls Powell “too late” on rate cuts, urging immediate action to boost the economy despite 3% GDP growth and 2.8% inflation. What’s the market outlook if rates stay high? Crypto may face continued pressure if the Fed holds rates, as seen in recent dollar strength and tariff-driven inflation fears.