Warren Warns of Market Risks if Trump Fires Fed Chair Powell

According to Cointelegraph, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences if U.S. President Donald Trump decides to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Warren cautioned that such a move could severely undermine investor confidence in the integrity of U.S. capital markets, potentially triggering a financial crash. During an interview on CNBC, the Massachusetts Senator emphasized that the President lacks the legal authority to remove Powell from his position. She further argued that removing Powell would weaken the financial infrastructure of the United States. Warren stated, "If Chairman Powell can be fired by the President of the United States, it will crash the markets. The infrastructure that keeps this stock market strong and, therefore, a big part of our economy strong, and a big part of the world economy strong, is the idea that the big pieces move independently of politics." She added that if U.S. interest rates were subject to the whims of a president, it would erode the distinction between the U.S. and less stable political systems. President Trump has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Powell, primarily due to the chairman's reluctance to lower interest rates. Trump has repeatedly called for Powell's termination, arguing that lower interest rates could serve as a positive catalyst for risk-on asset prices, including cryptocurrencies. This, he believes, could help reverse the market downturn caused by the ongoing trade war and current macroeconomic pressures. Trump's criticism of Powell intensified following an April 17 post on Truth Social, where he reiterated his desire to remove the chairman. This has fueled speculation about whether Trump will act on his threats. Senator Rick Scott has echoed Trump's sentiments, advocating for a complete overhaul of the Federal Reserve's leadership. In an opinion piece for Fox News, Scott wrote, "It’s time to clean house of everyone working at the Federal Reserve who isn’t on board with helping the American people and fighting for their best interests." The Trump administration has consistently prioritized lowering interest rates. Market analyst Anthony Pompliano recently speculated that Trump might have intentionally destabilized financial markets to pressure for lower rates. Pompliano pointed to a reduction in the yield of the 10-year U.S. Treasury Bond to 4% as evidence. However, the yield has since increased to 4.3%. The ongoing debate over interest rates and the Federal Reserve's independence continues to be a contentious issue, with significant implications for both domestic and global economies.