Trump's Secret Call with Fed Chairman Stokes Interest Rate Hike Mystery

President Donald Trump's decision to raise interest rates has been seen as a surprising move by many of his closest advisers. According to sources, Trump had a secret phone call with Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh before making the announcement, which was made on Wednesday. This move has raised eyebrows as Trump previously publicly bashed then-Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for refusing to slash interest rates.

In an attempt to save face, Trump suggested that he told Warsh to 'vote with the board' because it wouldn't matter anyway. However, top economist Michael Strain called this excuse 'both outrageous and false'.

The move was made despite anxiety about how Trump might react to a rate increase. Senior officials had been watching his remarks on reporters, and there was a sense of relief when he seemed to accept the decision.