WASHINGTON ¨C Trump administration officials moved to reassure financial markets that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell¡¯s job is safe following a report that said President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed firing the central bank chief after last week¡¯s Fed rate hike.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a pair of tweets Saturday evening that he had spoken with the president about the matter, and he quoted Trump as saying he didn¡¯t believe he had the authority to remove the central bank chief.
Mick Mulvaney, the incoming White House chief of staff, said Sunday he had spoken to Mnuchin and that Trump ¡°now realizes he does not have the ability¡± to fire a Fed chairman. Trump, a prolific tweeter, has not directly addressed the issue himself.
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