Trump pressures Powell to cut rates just before Fed chairman issues tariff warning

Published April 4, 2025 12:43pm ET



President Donald Trump called on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to slash interest rates on Friday, right before Powell warned about tariffs and indicated the central bank would hold rates steady for the time being.

Trump’s push for the Fed to cut rates comes at the end of a tumultuous week in which markets cratered in response to sweeping global tariffs. Trump made the remarks on his social media platform just minutes before Powell spoke publicly about the tariffs for the first time.

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