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Donald Trump says it is highly unlikely he will fire US Fed chair | Donald Trump says it is highly unlikely he will fire US Fed chair |
(32 minutes later) | |
Trump on firing Powell: 'We're not planning on doing anything' | |
President Donald Trump has said it is "highly unlikely" he will fire the chair of the US Federal Reserve, hours after asking lawmakers whether he should sack Jerome Powell. | |
Stock markets and the dollar slipped following reports Trump had broached the idea with Republicans on Tuesday but quickly bounced back after he downplayed the discussions. | |
Trump has repeatedly called on Powell to lower US interest rates in a series of highly critical outbursts. | Trump has repeatedly called on Powell to lower US interest rates in a series of highly critical outbursts. |
The attacks escalated last week when Trump allies accused Powell of mismanaging the renovation of Fed properties. | |
On Wednesday, Trump continued his criticism of Powell - who the president appointed during his first term - calling him a "knucklehead" and claiming he was "doing a lousy job". | |
He acknowledged that he had revived discussions about firing Powell, after appearing to shelve the idea earlier this year, but said he was "not planning on doing anything". | |
Pressed on whether he was ruling out the idea, he said: "It's highly unlikely unless he has to leave for fraud." | |
Powell's second term as Fed chair ends in May next year. He can stay on as a governor of the central bank until 2028. | |
The Federal Reserve was established by Congress and has powers to set policy independent of the White House. | |
US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell was appointed by Donald Trump in 2017 | |
Powell has denied that the president has the authority to fire him, especially over a policy disagreement, but White House officials have said he can be removed for cause. | |
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this week that a "formal process" was under way to identify a replacement for Powell. | |
Trump has floated Bessent as a candidate. Others in the running include Kevin Hassett, who currently leads Trump's National Economic Council, and conservative economist Kevin Warsh. | |
Powell was nominated to lead the Fed by Trump in 2017, replacing Barack Obama's appointee Janet Yellen. | |
Former President Joe Biden extended his term in 2021. |