"Powell doesn’t care": Shark Tank investor explains Fed’s stance on Trump’s pressure

When it comes to Donald Trump’s frustration with the Federal Reserve, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary thinks the answer is simple: Jerome Powell just doesn’t care. In a recent interview with Fox News, O'Leary broke down why the Fed isn’t losing sleep over presidential pressure and what it really cares about instead.

"The Fed's independent so to be honest with you, Powell doesn't care, this is a narrative that's been going on for a hundred years between the Fed and the executive,"

O'Leary said.

"They never agree on anything and they jawbone each other."

According to O'Leary, the back-and-forth is nothing new, and Powell’s approach as the Chair of the Federal Reserve is firmly rooted in the Fed’s independent mandate. It’s not personal—it’s policy.

The Shark Tank investor also pointed out that right now, Powell’s main concern isn’t Trump. It’s China. And unless the China situation gets sorted, O’Leary warns there could be real trouble ahead for American consumers and businesses alike.

---

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary says Powell only cares about China

Despite all the headlines, O’Leary says Powell is not focused on political noise. Instead, the Shark Tank star explained, Powell is laser-focused on one thing: China.

“All Powell cares about right now is how long are you gonna be messing with China?"

O'Leary said.

"Tell me when the China negotiation's over. The rest I don't care about."

While many worry about tariffs on Europe, Canada, and Mexico, Powell isn't sweating those deals too much. O'Leary noted that the markets have already stopped reacting to those negotiations.

"We're gonna get to some deal with Europe and Canada, Mexico and it's happening and the market doesn't care anymore,"

he said.

In other words, Powell’s economic radar is locked on the bigger game. And according to O’Leary, that game is China, not day-to-day presidential complaints. It’s a classic example of why Shark Tank fans love O’Leary—he cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the point.

---

Why Trump’s pressure on the Fed doesn’t change much

It’s not just Trump who has tried to influence the Fed, and it’s not new either. O’Leary reminded viewers that this tension has existed forever.

According to the Shark Tank investor, people wishing Powell would simply follow Trump’s instructions are missing the point. The Federal Reserve has two major jobs: manage unemployment and control inflation. And that's it.

“They have a mandate. It's unemployment and it's inflation,"

O’Leary said. Powell's interpretation? Stick to the mission, no matter who’s shouting from the sidelines.

So, while it might make for spicy headlines, the reality is much less dramatic. Powell isn’t ghosting Trump out of spite. He’s just doing his job.

---

The bottom line, according to Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary

At the end of the day, O’Leary’s message is clear. The noise around Trump and Powell might be loud, but it’s not moving the Fed’s needle. Powell isn’t ignoring Trump out of disrespect. He’s focusing on bigger economic battles.

For fans of Shark Tank and market-watchers alike, it’s a reminder that while politics can dominate headlines, economic fundamentals still drive decisions. O’Leary’s blunt take cuts through the noise: it’s China or bust.

From the Shark Tank floor to global economy, O'Leary knows a thing or two about negotiating high-stakes deals. And right now, the biggest deal on the table isn't in the U.S. or Europe—it's all the way across the Pacific.

As O'Leary summed it up,

"Everybody cares about China."

And apparently, so does the Fed.