AdvertisementBusinessBanking & financeFederal Reserve Opinion Meddler-in-chief: Trump is up to his old tricks again Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist August 11, 2026 — 11:55amAugust 11, 2026 — 11:55am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Share A A AEven with his handpicked man in the chair of the Federal Reserve Board, Donald Trump can’t help himself. AdvertisementThere is plenty of research that says the independence of a central bank from its government is correlated with lower inflation rates. Politicians want pro-cyclical monetary policies and lower interest rates to boost growth. The inflation-fighting credibility of the central bank has a significant influence over market interest rates – the bond yields that actually help determine the rates businesses and consumers pay.