During a visit to the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell found themselves at odds over the soaring cost of the central bank’s building renovations—now reportedly topping $3.1 billion.
At a joint press conference on Thursday, the two men stood side by side as they fielded questions from reporters. The tone turned lighthearted near the end, when Trump, with a grin, gave Powell a friendly pat on the back and quipped, “I’d love him to lower the interest rates.” The moment quickly went viral on social media.
Clash Over Cost Estimates
Trump used the opportunity to criticize the spending on the Fed’s renovation projects, claiming the total had ballooned past $3.1 billion. Powell countered, saying, “I haven’t heard that from anybody.” Trump insisted the numbers had just been released, prompting Powell to clarify that the figure included a third facility, the Martin Building, which is still under construction.
“You’re including the Martin renovation,” Powell responded. “You just added a third building is what that is. That’s a third building. It’s a building that’s being built.”
Social Media Reacts to Trump’s “Pat” and Powell’s Discomfort
Online reactions came swiftly, with many users noting the tension and awkwardness between the two long-time rivals. Trump’s showman-like demeanor appeared to overshadow Powell, who looked visibly uncomfortable during the exchange.
“Poor Jerome Powell. This is off-the-chart awkward,” one user posted.
Another wrote, “Look at poor Jerome! I almost feel sorry for him!”
A third quipped, “Jerome Powell got woke with a ‘gentle pat’ on the back. Didn’t realize the poor man was that frail—it almost brought him back to a conscious state.”
The interaction comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Fed’s spending, with critics calling for greater transparency around the mounting renovation costs. Meanwhile, the Trump-Powell dynamic continues to draw attention—not just for economic policy, but for moments of public theater like this one.
