Powell Dares Trump To Kick Him Out As Fed Chief

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is standing firm on his decision not to resign even if Donald Trump demands it.

Powell could face a barrage of personal attacks, insults, and threats, but he made it abundantly clear that he would not tolerate any of it. I Photo: Andrea Hanks, the White House

Speaking to reporters, Powell reiterated that Trump does not have the authority to remove him from office, Elisabeth Buchwald analyzed for CNN.

When a reporter asked if Powell would step down if Trump requested it, he responded without hesitation: “No.” Another reporter followed up, asking whether a president could fire or demote him. “Not permitted under the law,” Powell replied.

When the reporter pressed further, Powell, a lawyer himself, repeated, “Not permitted under the law.”

The directness and brevity of his responses stood in stark contrast to the thoughtful explanations he typically offers. Powell is serving a four-year term set to expire in 2026, as reported by BBC News and the Associated Press (AP).

The head of America’s central bank can only be fired “for cause.” While the exact definition of "cause" remains somewhat ambiguous, it is widely understood that mere policy disagreements with the president would not suffice.

Powell could face a barrage of personal attacks, insults, and threats, but he made it abundantly clear that he would not tolerate any of it. His message to Trump: Go ahead, make my day.