When I look back at Jerome Powell's tenure, I think he handled one of the most volatile economic periods in modern history with more steadiness than he gets credit for. From the pandemic shock to the inflation spike, he walked a very narrow path, and despite all the political noise, the U.S. ultimately avoided the recession almost everyone expected. I would rate his performance as "pragmatic but imperfect" — he was slow at certain points, but he delivered a soft landing that many global central banks couldn't achieve. That said, I fully understand why Powell never enjoyed strong public approval. High rates hit consumers, homeowners, and businesses in ways that feel very real, and the everyday cost of living still doesn't feel "normal." The criticism from Trump's circle only intensified tha