President Donald Trump said he’s not planning to fire Jerome Powell, and still managed to make it sound like a threat. Trump’s comments capped a hectic few hours that took his pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve chief to a new level — and sent markets into a shortlived nosedive. He ran the idea of sacking Powell by a receptive group of Republican lawmakers late Tuesday. An aide said Wednesday morning he was likely to follow through. Then the president publicly backpedaled – with a major caveat. “I don’t rule out anything, but I think it’s highly unlikely, unless he has to leave for fraud,” Trump said Wednesday when asked about axing the Fed chair. In trade news, Trump has dialed down his confrontational tone with China in an effort to secure a summit with counterpart Xi Jinping and a trade deal with the world’s second-largest economy, people familiar with internal deliberations said. Six months into his second term, Trump has softened his harsh campaign rhetoric that focused on the US’s massive trade deficit with China and resulting job losses. The warmer posture contrasts with his threats against other trading partners to ravage their economies with crushing tariffs. Trump said he would send letters to more than 150 countries notifying them their tariff rates could be 10% or 15% as he forges ahead with his trade agenda.
Today’s guests: Emmanuel Cau, Barclays Head of European Equity Strategy, Robin Niblett, Chatham House Distinguished Fellow, Per Franzén, EQT CEO
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"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – The Pulse With Francince Lacqua
00:02:17 – Trump Denies Plan to Axe Powell
00:04:56 – Trump Eyes 10-15% Tariffs on 150+ Countries
00:11:13 – Emmanuel Cau, Barclays Head of European Equity Strategy
00:16:08 – Robin Niblett, Chatham House Distinguished Fellow
00:21:11 – Niblett: US-China Relations Driven by Fear
00:25:27 – Per Franzén, EQT CEO
00:33:59 – Germany Rejects EU’s €2 Trillion Draft Budget
00:37:28 – TSMC Raises 2025 Sales Outlook
00:45:29 – Markets Waver on Trump-Powell Saga
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More on Bloomberg Television and Markets
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