The Trump administration says the president's visit to the Federal Reserve was to check the "progress" of a renovation -- and separate from his frustration that Powell won’t lower interest rates.

President Donald Trump used a rare visit to the Federal Reserve on Thursday to renew his pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, telling reporters that costs to renovate the Fed’s buildings were exorbitant. Powell shook his head at times during the president’s remarks.

Speaking to reporters at the start of his tour, Trump said that the administration was "taking a look at what's happening" at the Fed's $2.7bn (£1.8bn) renovation. "It looks like it's about $3.1bn," Trump said, as Powell shook his head.