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President Donald Trump’s unexpected visit to the Federal Reserve (FED) headquarters has hinted at a possible shift in the US interest rate policy. During his tour of the central bank’s renovation site with FED Chair Jerome Powell, Trump criticized the rising cost of the project but made it clear that his main concern remains the central bank’s reluctance to lower rates.

Trump Presses FED Chair Powell For Rate Cut 

On Friday Trump told reporters that he had a productive meeting with Powell, leaving the impression that the FED may be open to cutting rates. According to a Bloomberg report, President Trump and Powell toured the FED’s headquarters renovation project in Washington on July 24, discussing the escalating costs and, more importantly, the direction of US rate cut policy. 

Although Trump voiced concern over the estimated $25 billion renovation price tag, calling it excessive, he used the visit to reiterate his demand for immediate rate cuts, stressing that lower interest rates are essential for economic growth. Despite months of publicly criticizing the FED Chair, Trump’s face-to-face meeting with him ended without the political drama many had anticipated. 

Instead, the rare visit seemed to ease the long-simmering tensions between the two figures, though Trump made clear his expectations of a rate cut remain high. The US President also suggested that he is not currently planning to fire Powell, regardless of ongoing frustrations over interest rates and a controversial renovation project that has drawn scrutiny from the administration. 

Though Powell’s term as Chair ends in May 2026, there’s no indication he plans to step down early. Meanwhile, Trump continues to press for lower rates, stating, “I just want to see one thing happen—interest rates have come down.” He has framed monetary policy as a top concern for his administration moving forward, signaling that pressure on the FED to lower rates is unlikely to quiet down soon.  

Trump Repeats Rate Demands With UK Leader

Following his recent high-profile visit to the Federal Reserve, Trump escalated his campaign for lower interest rates during a closed-door session with United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In a pointed critique of Powell, Trump told Starmer and assembled global leaders that US rates must be cut to 1%, describing it as both an economic necessity and a personal frustration with the FED Chair’s leadership.

He emphasized the potential financial impacts of reduced rates, stating that they should be at least 3% points lower than they are now. He claimed this difference amounts to nearly $1 trillion in potential savings for the US economy, estimating that each percentage point equals approximately $360 billion in reduced costs. By raising this issue in a diplomatic setting, the US President signaled his willingness to challenge central bank policy on a global stage. 

Notably, many in the crypto community see a potential rate cut as a major catalyst for digital assets. Drawing comparisons to 2021, when lower rates triggered an altcoin explosion, crypto analyst ’Master of Crypto’ suggested in an X social media post the current market could be on the verge of a similar breakout, possibly triggering the start of the anticipated altcoin season.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from Tradingview.com

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