Trump to Mnuchin: “I Guess I shouldn’t have Fired that Yoda Lady”
Photo by Matt H. Wade, SA 3.0
washington, d.c.
Reportedly frustrated by the Fed’s direction under Jerome Powell, the man he chose to lead it, President Trump was overheard lamenting to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin yesterday, “I guess I shouldn’t have fired that yoda lady.”
The aide who overheard the conversation, and spoke on terms of anonymity, said the remark initially caught Mnuchin off guard because he and Trump had been discussing key points in the U.S.-China trade agreement. “At first Mr. Mnuchin didn’t say anything. I think he was trying to figure out what yoda might have to do with Chinese tariffs. Then he looked over his shoulder and saw the TV — Fox was running a story wondering if the Fed would raise or lower interest rates. I think that’s when it clicked for him.”
According to the aide, the rest of the conversation was as follows:
Mnuchin, “Oh, you mean Janet Yellin?”
Trump, “Yeah, yoda lady…I always forget her name.”
Mnuchin, “Well yes, she was a good fed president. Technically you didn’t fire her, her term ended.”
Trump shook his head with apparent regret, “Too short. If she wasn’t so short…Jay Powell looked good. You know, he looks like the leader of the Fed should look.”
Mnuchin said nothing. Trump made a weird face. Mnuchin noticed Fox had gone to commercial and said, “Should we get back to the China deal?” knowing he had 90 seconds before the leader of the free world’s attention would lapse again.