On May 27, Mark Thornton, a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, pointed out in an interview with Kitco News that the current situation of record corporate profits alongside a significant decline in consumer confidence is not an anomaly, but rather the result of the cumulative effects of a long-term loose monetary environment. He believes that decades of low interest rates and monetary expansion policies have altered the structure of wealth distribution, widening the gap between asset holders and those who rely on wage income. When discussing the Federal Reserve nominee issue, Thornton expressed criticism regarding Kevin Warsh's nomination as chair. He noted that the rapid decline in gold and silver prices following the announcement of the nomination was not merely a market reaction. "Kevin Warsh will certainly go down in history for causing the most malicious suppression of the precious metals market," he said, suggesting that some large financial institutions may have been privy to the information beforehand. He stated, "These gold and silver banks and large banks in New York likely had been consulted before the market was aware and had advance knowledge of President Trump's decision." Regarding the subsequent price fluctuations, he bluntly remarked, "The timing of all these market activities and the ensuing price suppression... I do not believe this is a coincidence." Despite expectations in the market for a return to 'hawkish' policies, with some even comparing it to the significant interest rate hikes during the Volcker era, Thornton believes this scenario is unlikely to materialize.