WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump denied Wednesday that he plans to fire Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell after telling Republican lawmakers he would likely make the move.
“No, I’m not talking about that. Fortunately, we get to make a change in the next eight months or so,” Trump told reporters on July 16 during an Oval Office meeting with the crown prince of Bahrain.
Trump informed Republican lawmakers in an Oval Office meeting Tuesday night that he planned to likely soon fire Powell after polling them on what he should do, a senior White House official told USA TODAY.
“Almost all of them said I should, but I’m more conservative,” Trump said, calling new reports that he plans to fire Powell “not true.”
For months, Trump has criticized Powell ‒ who he appointed to the post during his first term ‒ for not lowering interest rates.
“I think he’s done a terrible job. He’s costing us a lot of money,” Trump said, but stopped short of saying he will fire Powell.
“I don’t rule anything out, but I think it’s highly unlikely,” Trump said. “Unless he has to leave for fraud.”
This is a developing story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump denies he plans to fire Fed chairman Jerome Powel
