President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve after its Sept. 16 decision to raise the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a 3.75%-4.00% target range, the move the Fed approved unanimously.
Trump news coverage shows the president publicly faulting the Fed for its action and urging lower borrowing costs; the Reuters live report wrote that Trump “says US interest rates should be 1% or lower” after the hike and flagged his comments criticizing the Fed’s new chair, Kevin Warsh.
Video on the White House site documents the president speaking to reporters upon arrival in Charlotte on Sept. 16, where he again addressed economic policy and the rate decision.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump followed the Fed criticism by threatening to end trade with countries the U.S. runs trade deficits with, naming Canada, Mexico and the European Union as targets in response to the rate increase.
Coverage from business outlets noted the Fed’s unanimous 25 basis-point increase was the central bank’s first hike since 2023 and that Fed projections now point to a higher policy path, a context Trump and others cited when discussing the economic outlook.
What to watch next in trump news: analysts will be looking at whether the White House follows public comments with formal trade or tariff proposals, and how markets react if more Fed tightening is signalled; Reuters and CNBC both covered market and policy reactions after the Sept. 16 announcement.
For more on Trump’s response to the rate move and related domestic coverage, see our pieces on Trump on interest rates and where to find his posts on Truth Social.
Sources
- Reuters — reported Trump’s comments criticizing the Fed and noted the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points to a 3.75%-4.00% range.
- Al Jazeera — reported Trump threatened to end trade with countries the U.S. runs trade deficits with, naming Canada, Mexico and the EU.
- The White House — published video of President Trump gaggle with press upon arrival in Charlotte on Sept. 16, 2026.
- CNBC — provided the Fed’s new target rate range and coverage of market reaction after the Sept. 16 decision.
