President Donald Trump and his economic advisors are locked in a public dispute with the American electorate over the actual health of the domestic economy.
According to The Washington Post, Powell's term saw the U.S. economy move from a period of too-low rates to a two-decade high in 2023.
The White House has bypassed this requirement by claiming hostilities have been "terminated" through a ceasefire, yet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth admitted the U.S. could resume strikes on Iran at any time.
The U.S. consumer is already in a defensive crouch; any further shock from an expanded conflict in either the Middle East or the Pacific could push the 40 percent of households currently on the edge of insolvency into a full-scale crisis.
On the international stage, Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to maintain a firm line on Taiwan while President Trump praised Xi Jinping's leadership.
Americans report record financial distress despite Trump's 'A-plus' economic claims, as the Iran war and China trade tensions create new volatility.