Jerome Powell’s 10 Warning Shots at Trump’s Tariff War: Fed Chair Pushes Back

 U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell did not mince words in his latest press briefing, delivering a series of sharp warnings about the economic dangers posed by President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. While Powell reassured that the U.S. economy is still fundamentally strong, he outlined mounting vulnerabilities, largely fueled by policy uncertainty and escalating trade tensions.

On Wednesday, the Fed left interest rates unchanged for the fourth consecutive meeting. However, the updated policy statement and Powell’s remarks made it clear that the central bank is increasingly uneasy. Powell pointed to slipping business confidence, hesitation in investment, and rising fears of stagflation — all suggesting that Trump’s trade war could threaten the Fed’s efforts to maintain price stability and maximize employment.

Here are the 10 most striking warnings Powell aimed at Trump’s tariff approach during his post-meeting briefing:

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1. Political pressure has “no effect” on Fed decisions
Despite Trump’s repeated demands for rate cuts, Powell firmly emphasized the Fed’s independence. “We are always going to do the same thing — use our tools to foster maximum employment and price stability. That’s all we are going to consider,” he stated. Powell made it clear that political influence has “no effect at all” on the Federal Open Market Committee’s decisions.