**[Fed Faces Growing Pressure to Hike Rates, Trump May Not Direct Criticism at Walsh]** BlockBeats News, July 30: According to foreign media analysis, U.S. President Donald Trump has been persistently pressuring the new Federal Reserve Chair, Walsh, to lower interest rates as soon as possible. However, Wall Street investors are increasingly betting on the opposite outcome. The recent escalation of tensions in Iran, the implementation of a new round of global tariffs, the ongoing investment boom in data centers, and the continued strength of U.S. consumer spending have collectively heightened concerns about inflation among the market and the Fed. This has reinforced expectations for maintaining a tight monetary policy or even further rate hikes. The market widely anticipates that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged at its Wednesday meeting. However, whether Walsh, who took over as Chair at the end of May, can continue to suppress calls for rate hikes within the committee increasingly depends on whether inflation shows sustained improvement. Current polls indicate that the American public is dissatisfied with Trump's economic performance, and higher interest rates would undoubtedly further undermine the economic outcomes the White House hopes to achieve. Trump has consistently called for rate cuts and reiterated this stance again this week. Nevertheless, even if the Fed ultimately opts to raise rates, Trump's initial criticism may not necessarily be directed at Walsh but more likely at other Fed officials. Trump has already appointed three members to the Fed's seven-member Board of Governors. Trump previously stated: "Kevin is excellent, but he also has a committee, and the members of that committee are all very political. He wants to do the right thing—I know what he wants to do—but he still needs the approval of some people who may have ulterior motives. Rates should come down." [Original Link]