According to ChainCatcher, during a meeting with Treasury Secretary Bessant at the US-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump sarcastically remarked about Federal Reserve Chairman Powell: "I mean, Bessant, you need to take a good look at this guy. Powell definitely has a mental problem. No, something's definitely wrong with him. Honestly, I really want to fire him. This guy is extremely incompetent, and he should be sued for spending $4 billion to build a small building. Interest rates are too high, Bessant. If you don't fix this, I'm firing you, understand?"
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessant previously advised Trump to keep Powell in office until the end of his term, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick "prefers to fire" Powell. Federal Reserve Chairman Powell's term will end on May 15, 2026.
