Overview

• Jerome Powell, speaking at Princeton University, highlighted the importance of integrity and urged graduates to consider public service in their careers.
• Powell defended the Federal Reserve's independence and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, crediting career civil servants for stabilizing the economy during the crisis.
• President Trump has continued to criticize Powell for not lowering interest rates, calling him a 'fool' and stating his 'termination cannot come fast enough.'
• Powell praised American universities as crucial national assets while the Trump administration has targeted institutions like Harvard with funding and policy threats.
• The Federal Reserve has maintained current interest rates, citing economic uncertainty tied to Trump's tariff policies and ongoing inflationary pressures.