Fact check: did trump say biden appointed powell

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Trump did say Biden appointed Powell, despite this being factually incorrect. Multiple sources confirm that Trump made statements blaming Biden for appointing Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

The sources reveal Trump's specific claims:

• Trump said he was "surprised" that Powell had been nominated and that "Biden put him in and extended him" ^[4]
• Trump called Powell "one of my worst appointments" but then claimed "Sleepy Joe saw how bad he was and reappointed him anyway" ^[5]
• Trump blamed Biden for appointing the "terrible" and "numbskull" Fed Chair ^{[1] [3]}

The factual reality is that Trump himself appointed Powell in 2017, while Biden only extended Powell's term when it came up for renewal ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial historical context about Federal Reserve Chair appointments and terms:

• Powell was initially appointed by Trump in 2017 for a four-year term ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• Biden's role was limited to extending Powell's existing term, not making the original appointment ^{[1] [3]}
• Fed Chair terms are structured to span multiple presidencies, making reappointments by different presidents routine

Political motivations behind Trump's statements include:

• Deflecting responsibility for what he now considers a poor appointment decision ^{[2] [5]}
• Shifting blame to Biden for economic policies Trump disagrees with ^{[1] [3]}
• Creating distance from his own previous decision while campaigning

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral, but Trump's actual statements contain clear factual inaccuracies:

• Trump's claim directly contradicts documented historical facts about his own 2017 appointment of Powell ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• The statements show Trump's confusion or deliberate misrepresentation of his own presidential actions ^[2]
• This represents a pattern of shifting blame for decisions Trump now views unfavorably ^{[5] [3]}

The sources consistently describe this as Trump "raging" and making "bizarre denials" of his own documented actions ^{[1] [2]}, suggesting either memory issues or intentional misinformation to serve current political narratives.