#TrumpVsPowell Got it! If you're writing about Donald Trump vs. Jerome Powell, here's a brief overview you can build on, depending on your purpose (article, tweet thread, video script, etc.). Let’s start with a general summary, then I can break it into different formats if needed.

Trump vs. Powell: A Clash Over Interest Rates and Power

Donald Trump appointed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair in 2018, expecting loyalty. But when Powell prioritized economic data over political pressure, tensions flared.

Trump wanted low interest rates to boost the stock market and stimulate the economy—especially heading into the 2020 election. But Powell raised rates to keep inflation in check and normalize policy after years of easy money post-2008.

Trump repeatedly criticized Powell publicly, calling the Fed his “biggest threat,” and even floated firing him—an unprecedented move that rattled markets.

Despite the pressure, Powell maintained the Fed’s independence. Ironically, during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, Powell cut rates aggressively—just as Trump had wanted—but due to crisis, not politics.

Their feud highlighted a fundamental tension in American governance: politics vs. central bank independence.