off-the-wire

Bessent says Trump's comment about suing his Fed chair nominee was a joke

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
Bessent says Trump's comment about suing his Fed chair nominee was a joke teaser image

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday stressed that President Donald Trump was joking when he said over the weekend that he could sue Kevin Warsh, his nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, if he doesn't lower interest rates.

Bessent, who had been asked about the comment by Senator Elizabeth Warren during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, told CNBC in an interview that Trump's quip at a Washington dinner was clearly made in jest.

"I tried to explain to Senator Warren ... who seems to have no sense of humor, that it was a joke," he said. "And again, the president has great respect for the Fed, for the Fed's independence."

Reporting by Andrea Shalal and David Lawder, Editing by Franklin Paul

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.