Staff Reports
The Federal Reserve finally delivered a quarter-point interest rate cut, but for many Americans, the move feels like too little, too late. Markets reacted with predictable glee, shooting upward at the announcement, but the excitement masks a deeper frustration: the Fed has been asleep at the wheel while families have struggled with affordability crises, sky-high mortgage rates, and stubborn inflation. President Trump has been hammering Fed Chair Jerome Powell for months, calling him “Too Late Powell,” and the nickname fits. Ordinary Americans don’t need economic jargon to know that relief should have come much sooner.
Trump has long argued that the Fed drags its feet while the American worker pays the price. He demanded aggressive moves on rates to keep the economy competitive and the dollar strong, but Powell’s slow pivot has only reinforced the sense that the central bank is more focused on pleasing Wall Street than Main Street. Even with this modest cut, it’s clear Powell is still cautiously tinkering while the economy demands decisive leadership. The Fed keeps insisting more cuts are likely, but why wait to fix a problem everyone can already see?
Critics warn that Powell seems more like a captain steering by yesterday’s weather report than a leader with a vision for tomorrow. The global economy is being reshaped by tariffs, shifting supply chains, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical uncertainty, yet his response continues to look reactive instead of proactive. While it may be unfair to lay all of America’s economic strain at Powell’s feet, the reality is that the Fed’s hesitancy to act boldly has undermined both confidence and growth.
For regular Americans, the question remains: will this move actually help? A 25-basis-point cut isn’t going to make housing substantially more affordable for the young family desperate to buy their first home. It won’t suddenly tame grocery bills that remain stubbornly high across the country. Investors on Wall Street may love the news, but millions of families are wondering whether Washington and the Fed are even paying attention to their daily struggles. Economic optimism is meaningless if it doesn’t show up in people’s wallets.
Trump’s pressure on Powell reflects what many already feel — that America’s leaders need to stop dithering and take bold steps to restore prosperity and affordability. The Fed’s rate cut is a start, but it’s no solution by itself, especially if more delays are in store. Powell can tinker with charts and models all he wants, but real leadership demands accountability and action for the people footing the bill. America’s economy is resilient, but unless the Fed stops playing catch-up, the recovery will remain weaker than it should be.
