Group 1: Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - President Trump is pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, claiming that high borrowing costs are preventing ordinary Americans from homeownership [1][2] - Trump criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell for maintaining tight monetary policy, suggesting that the U.S. should have the lowest interest rates globally [2][3] - Plans to announce a new Fed Chair are confirmed, with Trump expressing hope that the next chairman will perform better [3] Group 2: Housing Market Policies - The administration has directed government-backed institutions to purchase up to $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to reduce long-term borrowing costs [4] - Trump signed an executive order banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, arguing that this practice distorts the housing market and drives up prices [5][6] - He emphasized that homes should be for people, not corporations, and called for Congress to make the ban on institutional purchases permanent [5][6] Group 3: Consumer Debt and Credit Card Rates - Trump urged lawmakers to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, citing high consumer debt as a barrier to homeownership [7] - He highlighted that current credit card rates can reach as high as 32%, which he views as usury [7] Group 4: Existing Homeowners and Market Stability - While advocating for lower interest rates, Trump expressed concern for existing homeowners, stating that policies should not lead to a housing market crash [8][9] - He warned that drastically lowering housing prices could harm homeowners' equity and lead to financial distress [9] Group 5: Economic Growth and Market Reactions - Trump argued that strong economic growth does not necessarily lead to inflation, suggesting that proper growth can help manage price pressures [9][10] - Following Trump's comments, U.S. Treasury markets stabilized, with the 10-year yield around 4.27% [10][11] - Gold prices continued to rise, reaching record highs, indicating a shift towards safe-haven assets amid market uncertainty [12]
Trump Pressures Fed, Slams Big Landlords, Pushes Bold Plan To Cut Rates - iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT)
Benzinga·2026-01-21 18:46