Trump praised the Justice Department's officials investigating the Federal Reserve Chairman for showing "courage" while criticizing Powell as an "idiot"

On March 27, Trump issued his strongest defense yet to the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, saying the officials who initiated the investigation showed "courage." Trump praised Attorney General Pam Bondi and District of Colombia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for launching an investigation this year into Powell's handling of the $2.5 billion renovation of the Federal Reserve headquarters. "I want to thank Janina Piro, as well as Pam and her team, for having the courage to file this lawsuit," he told a cabinet meeting Thursday. Trump's comments came after a federal judge suspended a subpoena issued by Piro's office. The judge wrote in an opinion earlier this month that prosecutors are using the investigation to force Powell to "bow" and comply with the president's repeated pressure to reduce borrowing costs. Trump labeled Powell an "idiot" on Thursday, criticizing him for failing to cut interest rates despite fears that the war in Iran triggered a new surge in inflation.