US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the current value of the US dollar is unrelated to the country's strong-dollar policy, emphasizing that currency fluctuations are natural and not unusual. He noted that predictions about the dollar's demise have been made multiple times in the past but have not materialized. Bessent also mentioned that recent dollar movements could indicate strengthening in other currencies. Regarding inflation, Bessent cautioned against overreacting to a single inflation data point and stressed the importance of observing trends, noting that inflation is not accelerating. He confirmed that President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated he will not fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, underscoring the significance of an independent central bank for policy stability. Bessent advised market participants not to worry about the upcoming August 12 date, implying confidence in economic fundamentals. He acknowledged past Federal Reserve misjudgments on inflation in 2022 and suggested the possibility of similar challenges currently.