U.S. President Donald Trump passes a doc to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to fact-check the numbers throughout a tour of the Federal Reserve Board constructing, which is at the moment present process renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025.
Kent Nishimura | Reuters
President Donald Trump posted on Saturday a cartoon picture depicting him firing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The publish on Truth Social was an image of himself pointing his finger and shouting “YOU’RE FIRED!” to Powell, who was holding a field along with his belongings. Behind them is an outline of the seal of the Federal Reserve.
The picture seems to be “AI-generated or digitally illustrated,” in line with visible evaluation by ChatGPT.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Powell for his cautious method to reducing rates of interest, nicknaming him “Too Late Powell.” The newest menace got here even because the central financial institution lowered charges earlier this month for the primary time this yr. Powell’s time period as chair ends in May 2026.
The White House did not instantly reply to CNBC’s request for remark.
Firing the highest central banker could be unprecedented as no U.S. president ever has tried to take action, although others have criticized prior Fed chairs. A latest Supreme Court decision indicated that the president doesn’t have the authority to take away Fed officers at will. Powell has mentioned repeatedly that his firing is “not permitted under the law.”
The Trump White House has blasted Powell over renovations to the Fed’s Washington headquarters, elevating suspicion that Trump may attempt to take away the Fed chief for trigger. Although these days Trump has eased his criticisms of the Fed constructing, whereas persevering with to be vocal about Powell hurting the economic system by preserving charges too excessive in his view.
Trump tried to fireside Fed Governor Lisa Cook in August on alleged mortgage fraud. The Supreme Court is ready to rule on that matter quickly. The Department of Justice on Friday said in a Supreme Court submitting that firing Cook for alleged misconduct wouldn’t hurt the monetary markets. Cook’s attorneys argued in a previous submitting to the excessive courtroom that her elimination may break Fed independence.
So far, the monetary markets have proven little response to Trump’s Powell threats or Cook’s tried firing. Though many economists and buyers consider firing Powell earlier than his time period ends may trigger longer-term rates of interest to rise on the notion the Fed would begin to act in Trump’s pursuits and never in line with its twin mandate from Congress of secure inflation and low unemployment.