Trump doubles down on Powell criticism & calls for Fed cuts

US stocks (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) sell off as President Trump reiterates calls for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to preemptively cut interest rates. Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Jennifer Schonberger outlines the latest on Catalysts with Madison Mills.

To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here.

00:00 Speaker A

US stock losses accelerating, as President Trump renews his push for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. You've got your S&P 500 down a little over 2% at your at the moment here. You've got your tech heavy Nasdaq off just about 2 and a half percent with tech taking it all on the chin for us this morning. Interesting to see consumer discretionary and information technology, the two biggest laggards right now in the S&P 500. No surprise, Tesla being the biggest uh responsibility bearer for the moves down that we're seeing in consumer discretionary this morning. That stock off a little over 6% right now. President Trump posting again on Truth Social this morning, calling Fed chair Jerome Powell, "too late" when it comes to cutting rates. Trump has repeatedly threatened to fire Fed chair J. Powell, despite legal protections. Here with more on this Yahoo! Finance Fed correspondent, Jennifer Schonberger. Jennifer, talk us through what you are monitoring this morning as this continued back and forth between the president and the Fed chair plays out.

02:00 Jennifer Schonberger

Yeah, good morning to you, Maddie. That's right. President Trump again calling on Fed chair J. Powell this morning to preemptively cut interest rates. This just days after the president tried to, or called for potentially ousting the central banker. The president posting on social media on his Truth Social site this morning that quote, "There could be a slowing of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser lowers interest rates now." The president pointed to how Europe has already lowered rates quote "seven times," and that Powell has always been too late. Trump stressed that quote "Preemptive cuts and rates are being called for by many," and that with energy costs and food prices down, there's virtually no inflation. Now these comments top a days long worth of tirade coming from the president, lashing out last week against the Fed chair following Powell's remarks that the president's tariffs could lead to higher inflation and lower growth, and that the Fed would hold rates steady for now. Trump said that Powell's termination cannot come fast enough, and told reporters in the Oval Office that quote, "I'm not happy with him, I'll let him know it. And if I want him out, he'll be out of there real fast. Believe me." Now, over the weekend on Sunday, Chicago Fed President, Austin Goolsbee, told CBS's Face the Nation that trying to remove Fed chair Powell early would undermine the Federal Reserve's credibility. Steve Moore, a longtime advisor to the president, told me on Friday that every time he goes to see the president, Trump complains to him that appointing Fed chair Powell as the Fed chair was one of his biggest mistakes. He handicapped the odds of the president removing Powell before his term ends in May 2026 at less than 50/50. He also called the Powell's comments from Wednesday quote a po- uh partisan rant. Now, whether the removal of Powell could survive a legal challenge is of course another question. The law clearly states that Fed members of the board will serve for 14 years unless removed by the president for cause. Now the law does not specifically address the Fed chair, of course, so question remains, what exactly constitutes for cause. Now, Maddie, over the weekend, we also heard from a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Republican senator, John Kennedy, who actually defended Fed chair Powell, telling Meet the Press that the president does not have the right to remove the Fed chair, and that the Fed ought to remain independent. Back to you.