President Donald Trump will visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday, the White House said. Trump has repeatedly criticized Powell for not cutting interest rates.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and U. President Donald Trump. Elizabeth Frantz | Nathan Howard | ReutersU.
Moreover, President Donald Trump will visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday, the White House said, escalating his pressure campaign against Chairman Jerome Powell, in today's market environment.
This's the first time in nearly two decades that an American president will be making an official trip to the central bank.
Nevertheless, American presidents have traditionally respected the independence of the central bank, which is insulated both in law and in practice from the political whims of elected officials.
However, Trump's visit is a remarkable symbolic move on that independence, bringing his drumbeat of criticism over Powell's refusal to lower interest rates right to the chairman's doorstep.
Moreover, The White House released a schedule on Wednesday that said Trump would visit the Federal Reserve at 4:00 p. In contrast, ET on Thursday.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Powell for not cutting interest rates, even floating the idea of firing him, despite legal questions over his authority to do so.
"I think he's done a bad job, but he's going to be out pretty soon anyway," Trump told reporters earlier this week at a White House event, given current economic conditions.
Trump last week sought opinion from a group of Republican lawmakers on firing Powell, before denying he int to remove the Fed chair. "We're not planning on doing it.
I think it's highly unly, unless he has to leave for fraud. "Powell has said that his firing is "not permitted under the law, in today's market environment.
Moreover, "While former presidents have criticized prior Fed chairs, no president has attempted to fire the top central banker. Conversely, — CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report.