‘A wild ride’: Trump softens on firing Powell after tense Fed visit

US Economic Policy & Federal Reserve - The meeting between President Trump and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve was a rare occurrence, highlighting the ongoing pressure from the White House on the Fed [4][6][7][8] - President Trump criticized the Federal Reserve's building renovations, claiming the cost had risen from 2.7% to 3.1% billion, which Powell fact-checked in real time [1][2][9] - The President's team has been focusing on the Federal Reserve renovation budget overruns, which started in 2017, as a line of attack [9] - There's a shift in the administration's messaging, with less emphasis on firing Jerome Powell and more focus on his successor, potentially indicating a more sober approach [12][14] Trade Agreements & Economic Data - The US administration aims to finalize trade agreements with the EU and India before the August 1st deadline [16][17] - Key economic data, including GDP and jobs data, will be released next week, providing insights into the impact of the trade war on the US economy [18] - The political fallout from the trade war and the reaction to the President's strategic approach are being closely monitored [19][20]