Senator Mike Lee duped by fake Jerome Powell resignation letter

In the United States, a fabricated resignation letter claiming to be from Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, caused a stir among conservative circles on social media on July 22, 2025. The letter incorrectly stated that Powell would resign, leading Utah Senator Mike Lee to tweet and later delete the letter when he realized it lacked authenticity. The letter contained glaring errors such as misspellings in the Fed's official seal, suggesting that it was generated using artificial intelligence, further leading to confusion when it was shared by prominent conservative figures like podcaster Benny Johnson. Johnson also deleted his post and subsequently apologized for promoting the misinformation. This incident comes against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and Powell, as Trump has often criticized Powell for maintaining high-interest rates despite the strong economic indicators he believes warrant lower rates. Trump's recent discussions regarding Powell's potential dismissal only heightened interest in the fabricated letter, with some Republicans secretly wishing for Powell's resignation due to his strained relationship with the current administration. Even so, by the day after the letter's circulation, Trump signaled that Powell would likely remain in his post for the time being, ultimately asserting that any change would come in the following months. The episode reflects the precarious nature of information sharing on social media, especially in politically charged environments, and shows the lengths to which some individuals may go to express their political ideologies, often without confirming the accuracy of the information being shared.