Trump yet again pulled no punches when he was asked about his thoughts on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday. Referring to Powell, he said that he was not happy with his actions, adding ‘No, I don’t think he’s done a good job’. The major gripe that Trump has with Powell is that he believes that interest rates have risen too fast, handicapping his presidency in a way that his predecessor did not have to worry about. ‘Obama had very low rates’ he said, adding that he believes Obama was playing with ‘funny money’ whereas he isn’t, he’s playing with the ‘real stuff’. ‘Obama had someone that kept the rates very low’ Trump said. ‘I had somebody that raised the rates very rapidly -- too much. He made a mistake, that’s been proven’.
During the course of the interview, Trump was also pushed on his threat to demote Powell, after there were reports last week that he had told those closest to him that he had the authority to do so. Trump was adamant that was not the case saying ‘I didn’t ever threaten to demote him’ however adding ‘I have the right to do that. But I haven’t said that’.
Not that he believes Powell’s actions will affect his re-election chances. ‘I think the economy is so strong we’re going to bull through it’.
Powell was not the only one in the firing line during the interview. Trump was also asked if there was one thing he could undo during his time as the leader of the free world, what would it be. Again he did not hold back, giving his former attorney general both barrels. Trump said ‘it would be personnel’ whilst going on to say ‘“I would say if I had one do over, it would be, I would not have appointed Jeff Sessions to be attorney general’ believing the appointment was the ‘biggest mistake’.
We are guessing neither of them will be invited to the White House for Thanksgiving this year.