As Donald Trump prepares to assume the U.S. presidency next week, speculation has arisen about his potential impact on the Federal Reserve’s independence, upcoming interest rate cuts, and their implications for the slump in the crypto market.
Donald Trump Will Not Affect the Fed’s Mission and Independence: Randall Quarles
Former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Randall Quarles, however, sought to address some of these concerns. He assured that even with President-elect Trump taking office, the independence of the Federal Reserve, as well as inflation and labor market stability, would remain intact.
“There are quite a lot of misunderstandings about the independence of the Federal Reserve,” Quarles stated during a forum on Monday. “The independence of the Federal Reserve does not mean that the president cannot express his opinion on the Fed’s policies.”
Quarles’ comments holds significance as the cryptocurrency market has experienced a mild decline since the start of the year. This makes the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and potential rate cuts critical opportunities for market recovery.
On the flip side, Quarles’ acknowledgment that Trump could express opinions on Fed policies has sparked speculation, especially as the Republican administration is reportedly preparing to introduce a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently remarked that the Fed cannot own Bitcoin, which some have interpreted as highlighting a difference of opinion among officials.
Quarles on Inflation And Job Market
Quarles also addressed concerns about tariffs, stating that while they are unlikely to lead to inflation directly, they could marginally result in lower interest rates from the Fed. Additionally, he predicted a surge in illegal immigration after Donald Trump assumes office but noted that it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the labor market.
Quarles’ remarks come ahead of a closely watched Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which is expected to indicate slight recovery in underlying US. inflation by the end of 2024, supported by a strong job market and a strong economy. This may validate the Fed’s cautious approach to further rate cuts.
Quarles, a Trump appointee to the Federal Reserve, was the vice chairman for supervision until 2021.
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