US markets plunged as Donald Trump compared the US Federal Reserve to a bad golfer in an outspoken Twitter rant.
The outburst comes at a time of increasing isolation for the president, with a dispute about the funding for his planned border wall prompting a government shutdown that is now in its third day.
"The only problem our economy has is the Fed," the president tweeted at around 3.45pm on Monday.
"They don't have a feel for the Market, they don't understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders," he wrote.
The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They dont have a feel for the Market, they dont understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch – he cant putt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 24 December 2018
"The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can't score because he has no touch – he can't putt!"
Stocks had already been down on Wall Street and are facing their worst month in a decade, following fears of a US trade war with China.
But losses intensified after the presidential intervention, with the Dow Jones dropping 653 points and 2.9% for the day.
Mr Trump was expressing frustration that the central bank had raised its short-term interest rate four times this year.
Fed chairman Jerome Powell said the moves are intended to prevent the economy from overheating in a time of quick growth.
Mr Trump's attacks have been interpreted as an attack on the political independence of the Federal Reserve, with many advising against the removal of Mr Powell.
I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security. At some point the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our Country more money than the Border Wall we are all talking about. Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 24 December 2018
As well as attacking the Federal Reserve, Mr Trump targeted critics to his border wall plan and decision to pull US troops out of Syria in his Twitter tirade on Monday.
Making a distinction between funding for border security, he said the wall would be built with "shutdown money".
"I am all alone (poor me) in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security," he wrote.
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"At some point the Democrats not wanting to make a deal will cost our Country more money than the Border Wall we are all talking about."
The dispute over funding for the border wall triggered a closure of a quarter of the government from Saturday, leaving around 400,000 federal employees working without pay.
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