Trump warns Musk over Democratic donations as feud deepens 07 June 2025 https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-...ver-democratic-donations-as-feud-deepens.html US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on June 6, 2025. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP / Lehtikuva US President Donald Trump has issued a direct warning to Elon Musk, threatening “serious consequences” if the billionaire chooses to finance Democratic candidates ahead of next year’s congressional elections. The warning follows a public and escalating rift between the two former allies. In an interview with NBC News, Trump said Musk would “have to pay” if he supported Democrats who are running against Republicans loyal to the president’s administration. “If he does that, there will be serious consequences,” Trump said, without specifying what those might entail. The comments come days after Musk publicly criticised a Republican-backed budget bill that increases federal spending. The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives and is now under Senate review. Trump has made the package a priority, and Musk’s opposition marked a turning point in their political relationship. Once one of Trump’s largest financial backers, Musk is now at the centre of a political fallout that has played out across competing social media platforms. The feud intensified on Thursday when Trump expressed disappointment in Musk, accusing him of disrespecting the presidency. “He has been disrespectful, and you cannot behave that way towards the office of the president,” Trump said.....
Trump slams Jerome Powell as a ‘stupid person’ ahead of Fed decision on interest rates Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, right, … more > By Tom Howell Jr. The Washington Times Wednesday, June 18, 2025 https://www.washingtontimes.com/new...ll-stupid-person-ahead-fed-decision-interest/ President Trump slammed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell ahead of an expected decision Wednesday to leave interest rates where they are instead of agreeing to the president’s demand for a cut. The central bank is expected to leave the benchmark rates between 4.25% and 4.5%, given the uncertainty around Mr. Trump’s trade policies. “We have a stupid person at the Fed, he probably won’t cut today,” Mr. Trump said as he inspected new flagpoles at the White House. “I guess he’s a political guy, I don’t know. He’s costing the country a fortune.” Mr. Trump is furious over inaction at the Fed. He wants the central bank to cut interest rates by one or two full points because, so far, inflation has been tame during his second term. Mr. Powell says he needs to take it slow because the central bank could be caught between controlling inflation and spurring economic growth, due to Mr. Trump’s tariffs and other economic policies. The president has given Mr. Powell a series of demeaning nicknames, including “Too Late,” and says Europe is cutting rates so the U.S. should, too. The Fed is an independent agency that is supposed to be free from direct political pressure. The president appoints a Fed chairman every four years, but does not have the authority to fire the chairman. Mr. Powell’s term as chair ends May 2026. Mr. Trump in April shot down speculation that he would try to oust Mr. Powell, saying he had “no intentions of firing him.” “I call him ’Too-Late Powell’ because he’s always too late,” Mr. Trump said Wednesday. “Maybe I should go to the Fed.”