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Everyone's saying the same thing after Trump awkwardly bickers on live TV with Fed chair over budget

Home> News> US News

Updated 10:36 25 Jul 2025 GMT+1Published 10:30 25 Jul 2025 GMT+1

Everyone's saying the same thing after Trump awkwardly bickers on live TV with Fed chair over budget

President Trump verbally sparred with Jerome Powell on live TV

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

President Donald Trump publicly scorned Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Thursday for the cost of an extensive building renovation as the two officials began a tour of the unfinished project.

Trump said the project cost $3.1 billion, much higher than the Fed’s $2.5 billion figure, while Powell, standing next to him, silently shook his head, before telling the president that he wasn't 'aware of that’, adding: "I haven't heard that from anybody at the Fed."

The president then pulled out a document from his pocket and handed it to Powell to read.

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"This came from us?" Powell said. He then realized that Trump was referring to the renovation of the Martin Building, which had been completed five years prior.

"Do you expect any more additional cost overruns?" Trump asked, to which Powell replied: "Don’t expect them."

Trump said that in his career as a real estate developer, he would have fired someone for cost overruns. The president joked that he would back off Powell if he lowered interest rates.

The very awkward encounter has since got people talking online, with one person even comparing it to a scene from The Office.

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Sharing a snippet of the heated exchange, someone said on Twitter: "This could literally pass as a scene straight from The Office."

"INCREDIBLE," a different person replied to the post. "I AM LITERALLY DYING OF LAUGHTER."

Meanwhile, somebody else pointed out that it's 'so rare to see someone tell him he’s wrong'.

Trump alleged that the cost of the current Fed renovations have surpassed $3 billion (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump alleged that the cost of the current Fed renovations have surpassed $3 billion (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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"The entire video is so odd from when he walks in." another added.

Doubling down on the The Office reference, someone commented: "Donald Trump makes Michael Scott look like a genius."

The pair's recent exchange comes after Trump branded Powell a 'numbskull' on Truth Social amid the ongoing pressure Powell's facing from the president to lower interest rates.

While Trump berated Powell in the post, he says he doesn't plan on firing him from his position as Chair.

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Following his visit to the Fed renovation site yesterday (July 24), Trump told a reporter who questioned if Powell's at risk of being let go, as per USA Today: "To do that is a big move and I just don't think it's necessary.

"And I believe he’s going to do the right thing… It may be a little too late, as the expression goes, but I believe he's going to do the right thing."

In its most recent meeting, the Fed held interest rates at a level between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent, The Guardian reported.

Meanwhile, Trump is said to want it to be at just one percent.

Featured Image Credit: ABC 7

Topics: Donald Trump, The Office, Politics, US News, Viral

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

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@niamhshackleton

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