Vice President Vance recently shared his views on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, acknowledging him as a decent person but asserting that he’s “wrong about almost everything.”
He elaborated, saying, “I think the president is correct in his assessment of Jerome Powell. He’s a good guy, sure, but he’s largely mistaken—especially when it comes to tackling inflation.”
In his conversation with host Martha McCallum, Vance expressed frustration about Powell’s timeliness in addressing interest rate concerns.
President Trump has also voiced his dissatisfaction with Powell lately. When asked on Thursday if he would meet with the Fed Chair, he likened the experience to “talking to a wall.”
Trump remarked, “The Bank of England has made cuts, China has made cuts, and meanwhile, there’s no action on our end. It’s disappointing. I refer to him as ‘too late.’”
His comments followed the Fed’s recent decision to maintain interest rates in the 4.25% to 4.5% range despite Trump’s urging for cuts.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Powell stated, “The job market remains strong, and inflation is under control. We can afford some patience as circumstances evolve. Waiting doesn’t carry a significant cost right now.”
He also mentioned, “There’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the future of tariff policies, which could impact the economy and job growth when they stabilize.”
Powell was appointed by Trump in 2017 and later reappointed by Biden.
In a separate interview, Vance defended Trump’s trade policies, claiming that the Trump administration faced the “highest peacetime deficit” in U.S. history.
He noted, “We were $34 trillion in debt, which has only worsened under Biden’s leadership. The president has been clear: Continuing with the Biden approach won’t bring peace and prosperity.”
Vance emphasized the need for a reassessment of trade agreements, greater access for American products in foreign markets, and increased national independence, calling these essential long-term strategies.
