The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that President Donald Trump has spent months calling Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell a "clown," "nincompoop" and "major loser." The Globe's Rita Trichur writes that now, his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is undermining Mr. Powell by stirring talk about his possible successor.
He said this week: "I think that there's a very good chance that the President will make an announcement before Christmas. But it's his prerogative, whether it's before the Christmas holidays or in the new year. But things are moving along very well."
National Economic Council's Kevin Hassett is seen as the frontrunner for the role.
Canadians can sneer at the devolution of the Federal Reserve, but they should not smugly assume that such political meddling with monetary policy could never happen here.
Mr. Trump and his lackeys are once again showing Canada how not to behave. That is why Parliament should use the 2026 review of the Bank of Canada's monetary policy framework to create more safeguards that protect its independence.
Ms. Trichur says Canada needs to act before it is too late.
She says Canada is not immune to the populist forces that led to political interference at the Fed.
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