President Donald Trump’s attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell came in for criticism on Fox News on Saturday’s edition of The Journal Editorial Report.

Trump has repeatedly urged Powell to lower interest rates, which the chairman has declined to do. The president reportedly considered trying to fire Powell, though he denies this. Matters came to a head between the two men on Thursday as they toured the Federal Reserve’s D.C. headquarters, which are undergoing renovations.

During the tour, Trump insisted that the cost of the project had ballooned to more $3 billion. Powell disputed this, saying that Trump’s figure included a building that had been completed five years ago.

“You’re including the Martin renovation,” Powell told the president. “No, you just added in a third building… It was built five years ago.”

Journal Editorial Report host Paul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal opinion editor, asked Journal columnist Mary Anastasia O’Grady if Trump’s criticism of Powell is valid.

“It’s fair to the extent that they are overbudget, and it was supposed to be about $1.9 billion,” she said. “And it looks like it’s gonna be about 2.5, so that’s right. They have gone over budget. However, if every project that had gone over budget in Washington or every federal project was a big crime like this, then nobody would have a job in Washington.”

Gigot pointed to a criminal referral made Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who alleged that Powell lied to Congress under oath while testifying about the project.

“I think even that is a little bit of a stretch,” O’Grady replied. “He was asked in a hearing where you have a few seconds to basically respond.” She went on to note that the project has run into unexpected problems, such as large amounts of asbestos, supply chain issues, and rising steel costs.

“I think it’s a lot of noise about nothing,” she concluded.

“It seems to me that what this is really about is monetary policy,” Gigot said. “Trump wants lower interest rates. Powell has been cautious in cutting them. And this focus on the Fed buildings has kind of come up lately. And frankly, the referral from Congresswoman Luna is preposterous. You’re criminalizing a difference of opinion on policy.”

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Fox Host and Guest Rip MAGA’s ‘Preposterous’ Attacks on Jerome Powell: ‘A Lot of Noise About Nothing’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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