Scott Bessent Denies Trump Will ‘Fire’ Fed Chair: ‘Not Sure Where that Question Comes From’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied that President Donald Trump will “fire” Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, pushing back on the question from Morning Joe host Jonathan Lemire.

Trump has bluntly criticized Powell multiple times since taking office, attacking him for refusing to lower interest rates and accusing him of impeding the administration’s economic efforts. The president reportedly asked GOP lawmakers about firing Powell, denying it as “highly unlikely” after those reports surfaced.

Trump appeared to clarify further he did not plan to do so in an exchange with reporters at the White House on Tuesday, musing Powell, whose term ends May 2026, would be out in “eight months.”

“He’s going to be out pretty soon anyway,” the president said, ripping the Fed chair as a “numbskull.”

He added: “I think he’s done a bad job, but he’s going to be out pretty soon anyway. Eight months, he’ll be out.”

Appearing on Wednesday’s Morning Joe on Wednesday, Lemire confronted Bessent on the question.

“Should the president just simply say, I’m going to let the Fed chair finish his term? Wouldn’t that supply a degree of comfort and stability to the markets that seem to rattle every time the president suggests that Powell should go?” he asked.

Bessent replied: “Well, I’m not sure where that question comes from, because President Trump has repeatedly said he’s not going to fire Chair Powell. He might like for him to resign, but he’s not going to fire him. He’s said that on numerous occasions.”

Watch above via MSNBC.