MNI BRIEF: Trump Says He Has 'No Intention' To Fire Powell

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not intend to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, but again complained about interest rates being too high and said the central bank should preemptively cut rates. 

Asked about firing the Fed chair, Trump said: "I don't want to talk about that because I have no intention of firing him," at a swearing-in of the new Securities and Exchange Commission chair, Paul Atkins. "None whatsoever. Never did." (See: MNI INTERVIEW: Fed Independence Facing Imminent Risk - Menand)

"We think the Fed should lower the rate," Trump said. "It's a perfect time to lower the rate. And we'd like to see our [Fed] Chairman be early or on time, as opposed to late."