A Trump official's comments about the Federal Reserve set off alarm bells and fears that an attempt to take control of the country's central bank hasn't ended.
Trump Housing Director Bill Pulte said on CNBC on Wednesday that he expects Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook, whom he accused of mortgage fraud, to be indicted by the Department of Justice.
"I do believe that eventually she'll be indicted," he said, ahead of a Supreme Court decision that might not swing his way. "No matter what the Supreme Court does, we have to prosecute mortgage fraud."
Onlookers called out Pulte's comments for masking what they feel is the White House's true intention: to take over the Federal Reserve. Pulte's comments came a few weeks after the Department of Justice relented on a probe into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
"Anyone who thinks the Trump Administration's attempt to take over the Fed is over is fooling themselves," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote on X.
Writer James Surowiecki added that, "Given that Trump can order his DOJ to seek the indictment of anyone he wants indicted, and federal grand juries go along with prosecutors 99.9% of the time, this amounts to saying that Trump can fire any Fed governor on the slimmest of pretext."
"White House officials dictating who should be indicted to remove them from positions without cause ON NATIONAL TELEVISION," journalist Grant Stern blasted. "And Trump's people control the police and prosecutors."
Trump housing director Bill Pulte: "I do believe that Lisa Cook will eventually be indicted, and if she is, that would give the ability to fire her for cause" pic.twitter.com/5dLNjPNLjx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 6, 2026