Central BanksMedium17 September 2026
2 min read

Trump Backs Warsh Despite Criticizing Fed Board Over Rate Hike

Key Facts

1President Donald Trump expressed continued confidence in Fed Chair Kevin Warsh despite the bank's decision not to cut rates.
2Trump criticized the Federal Reserve board as "hostile" after their unanimous decision to defy his calls for lower borrowing costs.
3Global bond yields retreated as the Fed's rate hike and commitment to taming inflation calmed pressured markets.

In a move reflecting heightened tensions between the White House and monetary authorities, President Donald Trump expressed continued confidence in Fed Chair Kevin Warsh despite the bank's decision not to cut interest rates. Trump criticized the Federal Reserve board as "hostile" following a unanimous decision to defy his public demands for lower borrowing costs. According to reports, global bond yields retreated as the Fed's rate hike and commitment to taming inflation served to calm pressured markets.

These remarks come as economic data shows persistent inflationary pressures, with the US Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 0.4% month-on-month in September 2026 per market data. Official figures also indicate that the annual inflation rate held steady at 3.4%, while the Super Core CPI recorded a 2.99% annual increase. This data supports the Fed board's decision to maintain a restrictive stance despite direct criticism from the executive branch.

Looking ahead, traders are monitoring further signals regarding the monetary policy path, though current instrument price levels are unavailable as of September 17, 2026. Key upcoming catalysts include a scheduled speech by ECB President Christine Lagarde later this month, which may provide broader global context for the Fed's current trajectory under Warsh's leadership amid ongoing political friction.