President Donald Trump is set to visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday, the White House confirmed—marking an extraordinary and symbolic escalation in his ongoing feud with Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
The visit, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET, will be the first official trip by a sitting U.S. president to the central bank in nearly 20 years. Historically, American presidents have maintained a respectful distance from the Federal Reserve to preserve its independence from political influence.
Trump’s visit, however, comes amid mounting public criticism of Powell for refusing to lower interest rates. The president has repeatedly voiced frustration over the Fed’s monetary policy, even suggesting the possibility of removing Powell from his position—though legal experts widely agree that he lacks the authority to do so.
“I think he’s done a bad job, but he’s going to be out pretty soon anyway,” Trump told reporters earlier this week during a White House event.
Last week, Trump reportedly consulted Republican lawmakers about the feasibility of firing Powell but later walked back the idea, saying, “We’re not planning on doing it… I think it’s highly unlikely, unless he has to leave for fraud.”
Powell, for his part, has reaffirmed that the Federal Reserve chair cannot be removed by the president without cause, citing legal protections meant to ensure the institution’s autonomy.
While presidents have occasionally criticized Fed policy in the past, no sitting president has ever attempted to oust the central bank’s leader—making Trump’s rhetoric and upcoming visit an unprecedented challenge to the Fed’s political independence.
