The Federal Reserve takes the Goldilocks view of economic growth: not too hot, not too cold.

President Trump, by contrast, has made it clear that he wants the economy to grow as fast as possible in the short term, even if that increases the risk of an eventual crash. He wants lower interest rates. And in pursuit of that goal, he keeps trying to place loyalists on the Fed’s board.

His latest nominee is Judy Shelton, an economist who has carefully cultivated the president by advising his 2016 campaign, staying at his hotels and loudly supporting low interest rates.

Presidents are empowered to pick central bankers who share their economic views, but not to undermine the goals that Congress has set for the central bank. Just as Mr. Trump crossed a line in naming opponents of pollution controls to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, his nomination of Ms. Shelton amounts to an attack on the Fed’s congressional mandate.

The question now is whether Senate Republicans are inclined to shake up the Fed. The central bank, charged with moderating inflation, minimizing unemployment and regulating the financial industry, spearheaded the government’s efforts to revive economic growth after the 2008 crisis. But since becoming president, Mr. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Fed and its chairman, Jerome Powell, for failing to do more, including in comments this week.