Trump Outlines Economic and Diplomatic Views on Rate Cut, Ukraine Talks

President Donald Trump recently shared his views on both domestic economic policy and international diplomacy, touching on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.

Regarding his efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, Trump indicated a second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is possible, but not guaranteed. The president noted that a follow-up meeting would depend on whether he receives “the answers I want” from Putin. Trump added that if the initial meeting is successful, he would likely hold a second meeting with Putin “almost immediately” before a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. He also suggested that he might bring up the issue of Russian hacking with Putin and that Russia would face “consequences” if the war doesn’t end.

In a separate discussion on the economy, President Trump weighed in on the Federal Reserve and interest rates. He reiterated his long-held belief that rates should be lower, stating his “paper calculation” suggests they should be at or near 1%. Without providing further detail on his reasoning, he emphasized that interest rates are “really just a paper calculation” and believes they should be “three or four points lower.” The president also mentioned that the list of nominees for the next Federal Reserve Chair has been narrowed down to a few names, and he expects to make a decision soon.