Trump threatens trade halt if Fed does not cut rates

President Donald Trump on Friday, September 4, 2026, demanded that the Federal Reserve lower interest rates, threatening to halt trade with countries that have a deficit with the United States if the central bank does not comply. The president issued the ultimatum via social media posts, citing a stronger-than-expected August jobs report as justification for his call for reduced borrowing costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday that U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, significantly exceeding economists' expectations, which had ranged from 53,000 to 55,000. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%. Trump asserted that the robust job growth indicates a strengthening U.S. economy and credit position, arguing that this should translate into lower interest rates. "High interest rates put the U.S.A. at a very unfair disadvantage, and I wont allow that to happen," Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform. He reiterated his long-standing demand for the Federal Reserve to cut rates, adding, "We should have the LOWEST RATE of any country in the World.