Trump Considers Firing Fed Chair Powell Amid Market Turmoil

Reports emerged that President Donald Trump considered firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell due to dissatisfaction with Powell's reluctance to lower interest rates, even drafting a termination letter and consulting House Republicans for their views. News of the potential dismissal triggered volatility in financial markets, with stocks dropping and Treasury yields rising, but markets rebounded after Trump publicly stated that firing Powell was 'highly unlikely.' Wall Street leaders and economists strongly cautioned against such a move, emphasizing the importance of Fed independence and warning that politicizing the central bank could destabilize markets and the economy. While Trump has criticized Powell for not cutting rates more aggressively despite cooling inflation, many experts and corporate leaders believe that abrupt changes in leadership or policy could have negative consequences. The situation reignited debates over the boundaries between politics and monetary policy, though Trump ultimately indicated no immediate plans to remove Powell. The episode highlighted how sensitive markets remain to perceived threats to central bank independence.