The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that after months of criticism, President Donald Trump confronted Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over rising costs of a building project. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that in a joint appearance at the construction site, Mr. Trump claimed the renovation would cost $3.1-billion, significantly higher than the Fed's $2.5-billion estimate (all figures U.S.). Mr. Powell countered that Mr. Trump was mistakenly including the cost of a previously completed building. This visit intensified Mr. Trump's pressure on Mr. Powell to lower borrowing costs. Such presidential visits to the Fed are rare, highlighting the central bank's independence from politics. Mr. Trump may be disappointed next week as Fed officials are expected to keep the key interest rate unchanged at around 4.3 per cent. However, economists and Wall Street anticipate that rate cuts could begin in September. Mr. Trump did step back a bit from some of his recent threats to fire Mr. Powell before his term ends May 26. Asked if the rising costs of the Fed's renovation, estimated in 2022 to cost $1.9-billion, were a "fireable offence," Mr. Trump said, "I don't want to put this in that category."