Pranksters impersonating President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine successfully deceived Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell into speaking with them in January, according to video clips featured on Russian state television and posted online.
The deception was apparently executed by two Russian comedians who support President Vladimir V. Putin. They asked Mr. Powell questions about the American and global economy, with his responses aligning with his usual public statements.
A spokesperson for the Federal Reserve confirmed that Mr. Powell had a conversation in January with someone posing as the Ukrainian president.
The spokesperson emphasized that the discussion occurred within the context of the central bank’s support for Ukraine and assured that no sensitive or confidential information was shared.
The video in question seems to have been edited, and the Federal Reserve stated that it could not verify its authenticity. The issue has been forwarded to law enforcement, according to the spokesperson.
The two individuals responsible for the prank have also deceived other global leaders, including Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, and Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany.
