Trump: Firing Fed Chair Powell is "highly unlikely"

President Donald Trump said it was "highly unlikely" he would fire Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve. His statements, made in the Oval Office, come less than 24 hours after telling a room full of Republican lawmakers that he was considering doing so. The president had asked GOP lawmakers late Tuesday how they felt about firing the Fed chair, according to a senior White House official. They expressed approval for firing him. The President then indicated he likely would soon but that no final decision had been made.July 16, 2025