New Delhi, July 23 -- US President Donald Trump has intensified his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. "He's a numbskull," Trump said, blaming him for high interest rates. "He keeps the rates too high, and is probably doing it for political reasons."

"I think he's done a bad job, but he's going to be out pretty soon anyway. In eight months, he'll be out," the president declared.

While Powell's current term as Fed Chair ends in May 2026, Trump appeared to suggest he could be replaced sooner - though he did not explain why the eight-month timeframe was relevant.

Apart from interest rate policy, Powell has faced growing criticism from Republican lawmakers over the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation project...