In the face of criticism that he was undermining the Fed's autonomy, Mr. Trump played down the idea that he should be able to freely share his views on interest rate policy. "I think presidents can talk. That doesn't mean they have to listen," Mr. Trump said after an event in the swing state of Pennsylvania on Monday. Mr. Trump said he had "assiduously persuaded" Fed chairperson Jerome Powell on interest rates during his tenure, "and it may or may not have worked." "The president can certainly talk about interest rates because I think I have a good gut feeling," he said. "That doesn't mean I'm in charge, but it does mean I should have the right to talk about it, just like everyone else."