Trump’s New Clash with the Fed: Lisa Cook in the Crosshairs
When it comes to Donald Trump, no feud ever feels like just a policy disagreement—it almost always gets personal. And right now, the latest target in his line of fire happens to be Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, a historic figure as the first African American woman and first woman of color to ever sit on the Fed Board.
Trump has never been shy about taking aim at powerful women, but according to biographer Michael Wolff, there’s a deeper theme running through his rhetoric—an obsession with Black women who hold power. Wolff claims this wasn’t just some passing gripe during campaign season; it was practically a daily fixation.
A Pattern of Attacks
Michael Wolff, who has spent years shadowing and reporting on Trump’s political world, didn’t mince words in a recent interview. He described how Trump lumps Cook together with other Black women he considers his enemies—New York Attorney General Letitia James, Atlanta prosecutor Fani Willis, and Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over a key January 6 case.
In Trump’s private rants, Wolff says, these women became a recurring theme: “fat Black women” supposedly out to destroy him. According to Wolff, Trump repeated it so often that it became almost a ritual in his daily tirades. Staffers, Wolff alleges, even joked to him, “Oh, it’s another fat Black woman day.”
That claim alone sparked a wave of outrage, but it also highlights something more troubling—Trump’s long-running habit of reducing his critics not to their actions, but to cruel stereotypes.
Allegations Against Cook
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump allies didn’t waste time piling on Cook. Former Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, who was appointed by Trump, accused Cook of falsifying bank documents and property records to land better loan terms—allegations that suggest potential mortgage fraud.
Pulte even went as far as sending a criminal referral letter to Florida’s then–Attorney General Pam Bondi. NBC News picked it up, sparking headlines.
Cook, however, dismissed the accusations outright. In her statement, she made it clear she wouldn’t be bullied into stepping down, especially over unverified claims flying around on social media. “I take my responsibilities at the Federal Reserve very seriously,” she said. “That includes addressing any legitimate questions with facts, not political smears.”
Still, Trump seized the narrative. To him, accusations—whether proven or not—were all he needed to launch another crusade against the Fed’s credibility. “What she did was bad,” Trump told reporters. “So I’ll fire her if she doesn’t resign.”
Why the Fed Matters Here
The feud isn’t happening in a vacuum. Trump has long been frustrated with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who was originally his own pick. Powell’s decisions, particularly around interest rates, often clashed with Trump’s desire to keep the economy roaring in his favor.
By targeting Cook, Trump is doing more than going after one governor—he’s waging a broader battle to weaken the independence of the Fed itself. Undermining Cook serves his larger narrative that the central bank is stacked against him.
Parallel Battles with Powerful Women
This isn’t the first time Trump has gone head-to-head with women in power. Take Letitia James, for instance. She filed a civil fraud case against Trump, accusing him of inflating his wealth to snag favorable loans. A judge initially slammed him with a $500 million penalty, but on appeal, the verdict was overturned.
That reversal gave Trump the chance to go on the offensive, branding James as “a criminal who should be forced to resign” in celebratory posts on Truth Social.
Then there’s Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who brought election interference charges after Trump’s 2020 loss. When she was removed from the case, Trump and his supporters danced on her political grave, with Trump declaring on Fox News, “The whole case has been a disgrace to justice.”
Judge Tanya Chutkan faced a similar onslaught when she oversaw parts of the January 6 investigation. For Trump, these women aren’t just prosecutors or judges doing their jobs—they’re symbols of what he views as a hostile system.
Wolff’s Diagnosis: Obsession
What makes all of this more striking is Wolff’s take. He doesn’t just call it racism—he calls it a pathology. “It’s an obsession of his,” Wolff explained. “It lives in him. One of his staffers said, ‘He must dream about fat Black women.’”
That’s a chilling thought, but it underscores how personal Trump’s attacks have become. They’re not only about dismantling reputations or defending himself in court—they’ve morphed into a fixation that seems to drive his messaging.
White House Pushback
Naturally, the Trump camp isn’t taking Wolff’s claims quietly. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung blasted Wolff as a “lying sack of s---” and doubled down with the usual line: Wolff has “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
This kind of counterattack is par for the course. Trump’s orbit rarely bothers to debate details; instead, they dismiss critics as frauds and smear merchants. But even their denials can’t fully erase the picture Wolff paints of a leader consumed by resentment.
The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake
So why does this matter? Because this isn’t just about one woman being attacked—it’s about the Federal Reserve’s independence, the rule of law, and the ability of Black women in leadership to do their jobs without being caricatured.
Trump’s pattern of going after Black female leaders raises uncomfortable questions about how bias intersects with political strategy. It’s not just rhetoric—it’s an attempt to discredit institutions by discrediting the individuals who lead them.
And if Wolff is right, this obsession isn’t going away. Instead, it’s fueling Trump’s effort to consolidate power in a way that feels even more unrestrained than his first term.
🔑 Key Takeaways
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Lisa Cook is facing unproven allegations, but Trump has already weaponized them.
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Michael Wolff alleges Trump has an obsession with attacking Black women in power.
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Trump’s history with James, Willis, and Chutkan shows a clear pattern.
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The Federal Reserve’s independence is being threatened as Trump sharpens his attacks.
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What looks like political mudslinging may actually be rooted in deeper personal bias.
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