Economist Warns Against Trump's Continued Assault on Federal Reserve Independence

WASHINGTON - July 18, 2025 - PRLog -- Donald Trump's recent remarks referring to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as a "numbskull" who "makes it difficult for people to buy a house" are being strongly condemned by leading economist William Michael Cunningham. The attack, published in The Guardian on July 18, is the latest in a pattern of political pressure aimed at undermining the independence of the U.S. central bank.

"This isn't just reckless rhetoric—it's a dangerous attempt to bend monetary policy to political ends," said Cunningham, founder of Creative Investment Research and author of the recent op-ed "Trump's Assaults on the Federal Reserve's Independence Must Cease" (https://www.impactinvesting.online/2025/07/bankthink-trumps-assaults-on-federal.html).

Cunningham argues that housing affordability issues stem not from Powell's interest rate policy but from fiscal mismanagement and deregulation under the Trump administration, which fueled inflation and asset bubbles. "It's disingenuous to blame the Fed for high mortgage rates when the conditions driving those rates were created by Trump-era policies," he said.

The independence of the Federal Reserve has long been a cornerstone of U.S. economic stability. Cunningham warns that politicizing interest rate decisions poses grave risks—not just to financial markets, but to working-class Americans, particularly Black and minority households who are disproportionately affected by economic instability.

"Attacks like this are meant to distract from Trump's economic failures, including worsening inequality and a housing market increasingly out of reach for everyday Americans," Cunningham added.

For more, see: https://www.impactinvesting.online/2025/07/trumps-fed-att...

About Creative Investment Research

Creative Investment Research is a Washington, D.C.-based economic research firm specializing in impact investing, financial innovation, and economic justice. The firm is known for pioneering methodologies in ESG and economic impact analysis and regularly advises public and private sector institutions.