Trump Criticizes Fed Chair Powell as ’Obstructionist’ Amid Rate Cut Pressure

President Donald TRUMP escalated his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, labeling him an "obstructionist" in a Truth Social post. The outburst comes as Trump continues pushing for aggressive interest rate cuts despite Powell's insistence on maintaining a data-driven approach to monetary policy.

The Fed faces additional challenges as a potential government shutdown threatens to disrupt key economic reports. Critical labor market and inflation data - including nonfarm payrolls and jobless claims - may be delayed ahead of the October FOMC meeting, leaving policymakers to navigate without their usual compass.

Recent economic signals have turned concerning. September's private payrolls showed the largest monthly job loss since March 2023, validating Powell's warning that the labor market's strength may be waning. The central bank now balances political pressure against economic uncertainty as storm clouds gather.