Washington, DC – Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh confirmed that President Donald Trump has not asked him to do anything inappropriate since taking office. He also stressed that he would not comply with any such request if made, during a hearing before the US Senate.
Warsh: Trump didn’t ask me for anything inappropriate
Warsh, responding to questions from senators about the nature of his communication with the US president, said that Trump had not asked him to take any inappropriate action. He added that even if he had, he would not comply with such a request.
The Federal Reserve chairman’s remarks came amid questions about the level of communication between the Fed chairman and the US administration, roughly two months after he took office at the helm of the central bank.
Refusal to disclose communications
The Federal Reserve chairman declined to answer directly whether he had spoken with President Trump since his appointment.
He also explained that he did not consider it appropriate to disclose the content of his communications with US administration officials.
He emphasized that maintaining the confidentiality of these communications is part of the institutional relationship between the Federal Reserve and the executive branch.
Emphasizing the independence of the central bank
The Federal Reserve chairman’s remarks come amid widespread scrutiny of the US central bank’s independence from the executive branch, particularly regarding monetary policy decisions.
The Fed’s independence is seen as a cornerstone for ensuring that economic decisions are made free from political pressure, as markets await the bank’s direction on interest rates and monetary policy in the coming period.
