Until then, Trump’s comments Thursday suggest he expects to regularly second-guess the Fed in public, despite a decades-long tradition among previous presidents of taking a hands-off approach to the central bank. Former president Joe Biden reappointed Powell, rather than replacing him, in a nod to central bank independence from politics.

The Fed will likely pause its rate cuts this week. After that, uncertainty over Trump's tariff, immigration plans make forecasting rates a dice roll.

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged this week, despite Donald Trump's calls for cuts.