Trump visits Fed headquarters, keeps calling for lowering interest rates

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "a very productive talk" about rates with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump kept talking about lowering interest rates when visiting the Federal Reserve's headquarters in Washington on Thursday afternoon.

"We have to get interest rates lower … Our country is the hottest in the world right now," Trump said in response to questions from the media after touring the Federal Reserve building. "People are pretty much unable to buy housing, because the interest rates are too high."

"We have no inflation, we have a lot of cash coming in … We should have the lowest interest rate of any country," he added.

"We can speak for everybody, frankly, we want to see interest rates come down. Our country is booming, and the interest rate is a final little notch," Trump said.

Trump said he had "a very productive talk" about rates with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. "He'll be able to tell you at his next meeting, but I will say that he did say the country is doing really well," Trump added.

"I believe that the chairman is going to do the right thing. I mean it may be a little too late as the expression goes, but I believe he's going to do the right thing," he added.

Local media all see Trump's visit to the Federal Reserve as the Trump administration's effort to step up pressure on Powell to lower interest rates.■