Trump Signals He’s Picked Next Fed Chair — Markets Point to Kevin Hassett

US President Donald J. Trump said this weekend that he “knows who he’s going to pick” as the next chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed), and that an official announcement is coming soon. Although he did not name the nominee, many in financial markets and media have zeroed in on Kevin Hassett — current director of the National Economic Council (NEC) — as the leading contender. Betting markets have reacted quickly: odds that Hassett will be named surged to roughly 80 percent, up sharply from under 40 percent last week. Hassett has publicly said he would be “honored to serve” if selected. Analysts believe his likely appointment signals a shift toward more aggressive interest‑rate cuts, in line with Trump’s push for looser monetary policy. That shift could have broad implications for markets, including renewed pressure on longer-term interest rates and potential boosts to risk assets. The rumored replacement would come as current Fed Chair Jerome Powell — appointed in 2018 under Trump’s first administration — sees his term expire in May 2026. Under Powell, the Fed steered the U.S. through pandemic-era turbulence, inflation spikes, and banking-sector stress. Some Republican-aligned critics, including Trump, have argued Powell was too slow to ease rates — criticism that has helped elevate Hassett’s standing. Whether Hassett will become the official nominee depends on the formal announcement from the White House and subsequent confirmation proceedings, but for now, markets and media are taking his likely ascension to the top job at the Fed quite seriously. #Fed #KevinHassett #DonaldTrump #MonetaryPolicy #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM