Trump says Kevin Warsh is at top of Fed chair candidate list

President Donald Trump said Friday that Kevin Warsh is at the top of his list as the next Federal Reserve chairman, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Warsh, the former Fed governor who was previously on Trump’s short list but not his favorite, apparently felt even more elated after his interview with the president on Wednesday.

“Yes, I think so,” Trump told the newspaper when asked if Warsh was at the top. An account published on Friday afternoon.

“I think you’ve got Kevin and Kevin. Both of them, I think two Kevins are great,” Trump said, referring to National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, who forecast markets had previously projected as the favorite.

“I think there are a few others who are great,” the president added.

In addition to putting more emphasis on Warsh getting the job, Trump also reiterated his past assertion that the Fed chairman should consult with the president on interest rate decisions.

“In general, this is not done anymore. It used to be done routinely. It needs to be done,” he said. “I am a wise voice and must be listened to.”

Trump has been at odds with current chairman Jerome Powell almost from the moment he nominated him for the post in 2017. Frequently resorting to name-calling and personal insults, Trump badgered the Fed into lowering interest rates; He was even unhappy with the current pace of cuts, which has seen the central bank cut its key interest rate by three-quarters since September.

He also noted that Warsh largely agreed with Trump’s stance on monetary policy.

“He thinks you should lower interest rates,” Trump said. “And so does everyone I talk to.”

Prediction markets became active after the Journal report. It previously gave Hassett about a 71% chance of winning the nomination, which dropped to 60%, while Warsh had 40%.

Trump left enough room to change his mind by stating that he had several good candidates ahead of him.

“I think I have one that I like the most,” he said. When he called Powell to this point, he said, “I love them all, but I want to be careful because I was given bad advice.”

Throughout the year, Trump repeatedly blamed former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for recommending Powell. Current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading the current search. Trump has made no secret that he would prefer Bessent to fill the role, but the Treasury chief has repeatedly said he is not interested.

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