President Joe Biden said in Sept. 19 remarks that he hasn’t spoken with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell since he became president.

Verdict: False

This statement is inaccurate. Biden met with Powell in May 2022, over a year into his presidency.

Fact Check: 

Biden said that the recent Federal Reserve rate cut signifies that inflation in America is lowering in remarks made on Thursday at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., according to ABC News. He added that this “doesn’t mean the work is done” in improving the economy, the outlet reported.

During these remarks, Biden claimed that he has not met with Powell once since his presidential inauguration in January 2021.

“And unlike my predecessor, I respect the Federal Reserve’s independence as they pursued — it’s a mandate — to bring inflation down.  That independence has served the country well.  And, by the way, I’ve never once spoken to the chairman of the Fed since I became president.  It’ll also do enormous damage to our economy if that independence is ever lost,” Biden said, per the transcript.

The claim is incorrect, however. Biden met with Powell in May 2022, over a year into his presidency, to discuss inflation concerns, according to PBS. This article contains a video that shows Powell sitting across from Biden as he speaks. (RELATED: Have 21 Million People Been Let Into The U.S. Under The Biden-Harris Administration?)

A Federal Reserve spokesperson directed Check Your Fact to Powell’s meeting calendar. The May 2022 calendar shows Powell’s meeting with Biden on May 31 at 1:15 in the afternoon.

A White House spokesperson directed Check Your Fact to remarks by the Council of Economic Advisers Jared Bernstein. Bernstein who Sept. 19 that Biden was “saying that he has not spoken to Chair Powell about interest rates.”

“He did not pressure Powell and has never done so.  And, in fact, in the speech today that was in the section about Fed independence and about the importance of respecting and — and honoring that independence.  It’s obviously a stark contrast with our predecessor.  Never has the president spoken to Chair Powell about interest rates as president, never has he pressured him,” Bernstein said.