Janet Yellen Would Rather Yell "Rates Are Going UP!" Than Comment On President Trump
Federal Reserve chair and human economic Rorschach test Janet Yellen gave a speech in Philadelphia today and coyly teased all listeners with non-committal statements on a June rate hike while also letting everyone know that she thinks the economy is probably kind of strong...maybe.
It was the kind of quasi-straight talk in which all Fed chairs are forced indulge, but Yellen was given a reprieve in the final moments of her lunch appearance. One brave Philly retiree dared to ask a decidedly fun question at a decidedly un-fun event.
Here's what that likely Mike Schmidt was wondering:
"They have mentioned that if the Rep candidate becomes POTUS, there is a possibility of an economic crash all over the world because of the world viewing Donald Trump - of how they view, Donald Trump. Is this a possibility?"
After a murmur of nervous laughter passed around the room, Yellen employed her own Brooklyn accent to address the notion of her Queens-born critic. The same guy who has accused Yellen of being a political stooge of the Obama administration and who also said he'd fire her for doing the same things he would do in her position.
And J-Yells dipped deep into the shade bag for her answer:
"I'm sorry, I've got nothing for you. We're focused on our jobs."
So basically, with the possible reverberations of rate hike looming on a fragile economy and debt-crazed economic neophyte about to become a major party's presidential nominee, Yellen took the opportunity to talk about Trump and responded with a crystal clear "Nah, son...I'm good."