The Economist explains

A short history of political meddling with the Federal Reserve

Donald Trump’s attacks on the Fed are a throwback to the era before central-bank independence

Federal Reserve board member Jerome Powell speaks from a lectern as a serious looking Donald Trump looks on in the background.
Photograph: AP

DONALD TRUMP thinks dimly of America’s central bank. When he was president, he berated the Federal Reserve for keeping interest rates higher than he wanted, fuming that Jerome Powell, its chair, could be a “bigger enemy” than Xi Jinping, China’s leader. Now the Republican presidential nominee is preparing for another fight if he wins November’s election. On August 8th Mr Trump insisted he should “have a say” over monetary policy during a second term.

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