Trump urges to cut rates before Powell testimony

U.S. President Donald Trump called for a major interest rate cut before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony to Congress.

Posting on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump said: “We should be at least two to three points lower… if things later change to the negative, increase the Rate.” He added that Powell would appear before Congress to explain “why he is refusing to lower the Rate.”

Powell is scheduled to testify before lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday, following a week of pointed criticism from Trump, which has fuelled Wall Street speculation about the Federal Reserve’s direction when Powell’s term expires next May.

Last week, the Fed kept rates steady at 4.25%-4.50% and signaled two possible cuts by the end of 2025. However, Powell warned of continued inflation pressures as consumers face rising prices from the Trump administration’s planned import tariffs.

Trump’s renewed push for aggressive rate cuts came shortly after his announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, further heightening political and economic attention on this week’s congressional testimony.

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