Trump says he would not stop the Fed chairman, Mr Powell, when he offered his resignation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump sharply criticized Friday Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and said he would not try to prevent the US chief banker. to resign.

Trump, who left the White House to go to the G7 summit in France, told reporters: "I'm not happy with Jay Powell."

His comments then continued a war of words against Powell who, along with China's retaliatory tariffs on US goods, helped trigger a sharp drop on Friday of the US stock market.

"I do not think he's doing a good job," Trump told reporters as he left the White House shortly before midnight on Friday.

"I do not think he's a great chess player, but I've had it, you know, that's what I've got," added the president. , who had previously asked on Twitter who was "our biggest enemy", Powell or the Chinese. chief Xi Jinping.

When asked if he wanted Powell to resign, Trump replied, "Do I want him to resign?" Let me say so, if he did, I would not stop him. "

Powell was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Friday for a meeting with other central bankers. He said the Fed would "do the right thing" to keep the US economy healthy in a deteriorating global economy, but not engage in a series of rate cuts requested by Trump.

In the face of growing risks to the economy, the Fed lowered rates for the first time in more than a decade last month, and the majority of markets are expecting the central bank to make a further cut in the review. its September policy.