President Donald Trump suggested that a $2.5 billion renovation plan at the Federal Reserve might be sufficient cause to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, an escalation of his recent attacks against the central banker.

Three things can simultaneously be true: that it would be reasonable for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates; that its headquarters renovation is too expensive; and that the Trump administration's attacks show why central banks are designed to be independent in the first place.

President Donald Trump said he’s not planning to fire Jerome Powell, and still managed to make it sound like a threat. Trump’s comments capped a hectic few hours that took his pressure campaign against the Federal Reserve chief to a new level — and sent markets into a shortlived nosedive.