President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he would love to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell , but suggested that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is holding him back.

"[I'll] be honest, I'd love to fire his ass," Trump said of Powell at the U.S. Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C.

Trump urged Bessent to "work on" Powell to quickly lower interest rates — and quipped that the Cabinet secretary's job depended on it.

"The only thing Scott's blowing it on is the Fed," Trump said. "The rates are too high, Scott, and if you don't get it fixed fast, I'm gonna fire your ass."

It was unclear how seriously Trump was threatening to fire Bessent.

White House spokesman Kush Desai told CNBC in a statement, "The White House maintains complete confidence in Secretary Bessent's

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