Updated

The Federal Reserve raised US interest rates in a unanimous decision, the first hike in three years, despite fierce public opposition from President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly called for rate cuts. The move signals the central bank's independence from White House pressure on monetary policy. In response, Trump threatened to end trade with Mexico and Europe, escalating tensions between the White House and both the Fed and US trading partners. The threat marks a broadening of Trump's confrontational stance, tying domestic monetary policy disputes to international trade relations.