WASHINGTON: Presi­dent Donald Trump lashed out Thursday at Jerome Powell after the US central bank continued to hold rates steady again, calling him “too stupid” to be Federal Reserve chairman.

“Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell has done it again!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, after the Fed decided a day earlier to hold its key lending rate steady for a fifth straight meeting.

In announcing its decision Wednesday, the Fed cited a moderation in economic activity in the first half of the year and “solid” labor market conditions.

It warned however that “uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated,” while inflation too is somewhat heightened.

With Trump’s sweeping tariffs on US trade partners raising uncertainty about the economic and inflationary outlook, Powell on Wednesday told a press conference that “we’re still a ways away from seeing where things settle down.” “He is TOO LATE, and actually, TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL, to have the job of Fed Chair,” Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell over the rate decision The president’s repeated attacks have fueled speculation that Trump may attempt to fire Powell or otherwise pressure him to resign early.

Powell’s term as Fed chair ends in May 2026, and on Wednesday he defended the independence of the central bank as having “served the public well.”

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2025