'Numbskull, moron and too stupid': Trump and Powell's biggest clashes

'Numbskull, moron and too stupid': Trump and Powell's biggest clashes12 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDearbail JordanBusiness reporter AFP via Getty Images/ReutersIt has been one of the most fractious relationships between an American president and a central banker in history.Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell - mainly because interest rates have not fallen as quickly as the 47th president of the US would like.Now, as Powell prepares to step down as chair to make way for Trump's nomination Kevin Warsh, we take a look back at some of the biggest clashes between the two.A surprise appointmentGetty ImagesRosier times: Donald Trump and Jerome Powell in the White House garden Trump expressed shock that Jerome Powell got the job of Federal Reserve chair in the first place. "He's a terrible Fed chair," he said last July. "I was surprised he was appointed. I was surprised, frankly, that Biden put him in and extended him."So who did nominate Powell? It was the 45th president of the United States - Donald Trump.Back in November 2017 during his first term, Trump said the Fed needed "strong, sound and steady leadership".And "strong", "committed", "smart" Powell was the right person for the job, according to Trump.'Numbskull, dummy, moron'The president of the world's biggest economy has had quite a few nicknames for America's top central banker.Since returning to the White House, Trump has wanted the Fed to pick up the pace of interest rate cuts. The bank - which cut rates three times in 2025 - wanted to see what effect Trump's trade tariffs would have on inflation.Whenever the Fed voted to keep interests on hold, Trump blasted Powell. Christening him "Too Late" in April last year, Trump said Powell's "termination cannot come fast enough!" and things have pr...