Politics - News Analysis

Donald Trump Didn’t Reappoint Janet Yellen To The Federal Reserve Because … She’s Too Short

According to The Washington Post, Donald Trump believed Janet Yellen, the former chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, was too short to run the central bank.

Current and former officials told WashPo that Trump “appeared hung up on Yellen’s height,” asking aides and officials multiple times if they agreed that Yellen, who is 5 foot 3 inches, was tall enough to be in charge of the Fed.

People briefed on Trump’s interview with Yellen say that the president was considering reappointing her to the post, adding that he was impressed with her during the interview.

Jerome Powell is the current head of the Federal Reserve, and when asked about his decision to appoint him during a wide-ranging interview with the Post, Trump said, “Look, I took recommendations. I’m not blaming anybody.”

According to the Post, advisers also told Trump he shouldn’t re-nominate Yellen, and instead should have his own, new person as head.

There have been some tongue-in-cheek comparisons made in the past to the height of Fed chairs and their propensity to raise rates, with 6-foot-9 Paul Volcker being the most aggressive. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is close to 6 feet tall.

Trump has been harshly critical of the Fed and Powell, whom he chose over Yellen. The president has objected to the interest rate increases under Powell, though Yellen also presided over hikes and the beginning of the reduction in the Fed’s balance sheet.

“Look, I took recommendations. I’m not blaming anybody,” Trump told the Post, despite reports that he blames Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for recommending Powell.

This isn’t the first time Trump has had issue with someone’s appearance, having commented on the physical appearance of other senior officials numerous times. The president was rumored to have been dissatisfied with national security adviser John Bolton’s mustache, and commented that H.R. McMaster, Bolton’s predecessor, “looks like a beer salesman” in a suit.

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