鲍威尔为受特朗普攻击的美联储和美国大学辩护，呼吁学生们投身公共服务事业

Core Points - Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, defended the Fed's actions during the pandemic and emphasized the importance of public service in his speech at Princeton University [1][2] - Powell acknowledged that the Fed should have acted more quickly to raise interest rates in 2021, but he maintained that the measures taken helped avoid the worst economic outcomes [1] Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - Powell described the Fed as a "key first responder" during the pandemic, initiating asset purchase programs to maintain low long-term interest rates amid a severe global economic downturn [1] - The Fed's actions included purchasing trillions of dollars in U.S. Treasury securities and agency mortgage-backed securities [1] Group 2: Inflation and Criticism - The U.S. inflation rate surged to its highest level in 40 years in 2022, leading to criticism of the Fed's response during that period [1] - Kevin Walsh, a potential successor to Powell, criticized him for being "passive" during the inflationary period [1] Group 3: Higher Education - Powell referred to U.S. higher education institutions, including Ivy League schools, as "national assets that the world envies" despite recent threats from the Trump administration to cut funding [2]