Trump dines with Federal Reserve chair Powell, a frequent target Trump dines with Federal Reserve chair Powell, a frequent target "It is rare for a president to meet with the Fed leader, although not unprecedented. Former President Barack Obama met with then-Chairwoman Janet Yellen in 2016, for example. But presidents are not supposed to dictate Fed policy. Fed leaders believe they must be independent or else faith in the central bank will plummet and the Fed won't be able to do its job effectively to regulate banks and keep the economy from overheating." https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trump-powell-meeting-20190204-story.html