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Everyone’s Wrong About Trump and the Fed

Everyone’s Wrong About Trump and the Fed

James Altucher

Posted April 21, 2025

James Altucher

You walk in. They close the door. There’s that weird “we-hope-you’re-doing-well” smile.

Uh-oh.

You're about to get fired.

They start talking. You’re not even listening. You’re just thinking about how fast you can clear your browser history before IT locks you out.

I’ve been fired from just about every job I’ve ever had.

→ HBO fired me after I sold them a show.

→ The hedge fund I co-founded kicked me out.

→ I even got booted from a company after I sold it for millions.

And you know what I learned? Firing someone isn’t always about incompetence.

Sometimes it’s about control.

And that’s exactly what we’re watching play out—right now—with Trump and Jerome Powell.

Trump just threatened to “terminate” Powell.

CNBC says “he can’t do that.”

Fox says “he absolutely should.”

Meanwhile, everyone’s missing what’s really happening in the markets. Spoiler: the biggest setup for stocks in decades.

Maybe ever.

And, yes, it has everything to do with what Trump’s doing right now.

But not just any stocks. Many stocks—some of which you might already own—are going to get left behind.

That part is crucial.

So let me show you why I’m ghosting everything on my calendar this week. (And setting up a livestream on Thursday to talk all about it.)

First, the question everyone’s asking…

Can Trump Really Fire Powell?

Trump sees Powell as an obstacle.

But can he really fire him?

Legally? Not easily.

The Fed Chair serves a four-year term, and you need “cause” to remove him. And nobody knows what “cause” actually means.

Does it mean corruption? Or just bad decisions?

If Powell hikes rates into a recession, does that count?

Nobody knows. It’s never been tested. No President has ever tried it. Not Nixon. Not LBJ. Not even Reagan.

Trump might be the first.

But even if he doesn’t go nuclear, he still has options.

Option one: Wait until Powell’s term ends in 2026 and appoint a replacement who’s ready to do everything Powell won’t.

But Trump’s not a patient man.

Option two: He could nominate a “shadow chair” now. Someone the markets know will be Powell’s successor. Someone who goes on TV and signals what Trump wants him to. Someone who says, “When I take over, we’re doing this.”

Wall Street listens to signals. That’s how the Fed works now. It’s all about expectations.

That’s how you move the game without touching the board.

Option three: This one’s spicy… and a lot more speculative.

There’s a Supreme Court case on the docket this year (Trump v. Wilcox)—one that could redefine presidential control over independent agencies.

If the court rules in Trump’s favor, it could change everything. No more “for cause” clause. No more guardrails.

It would mean Trump could legally fire Powell… with the stroke of a pen.

That’s not just a shift in monetary policy. That’s a new era.

For the record, I don’t think that’ll happen.

Because…

Here’s What Everyone’s Missing

Trump doesn’t need to fire Powell at all.

Because the pressure alone is already having an effect.

Behind the scenes, markets are twitching. And capital is starting to move. My team and I are watching it in real-time.

Here’s the thing…

The smart money isn’t moving out of fear.

But out of anticipation.

And they’re shifting into the parts of the market that have been ignored.

Meaning? Right now is the BEST time to pay attention.

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