Overview
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he is finishing second‑round interviews and that there is a very good chance the president announces a choice before Christmas.
- The reported shortlist includes Kevin Hassett, Christopher Waller, Kevin Warsh, Michelle Bowman and Rick Rieder, according to CNBC.
- Prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi recently gave Waller a narrow edge, and Waller said his latest meeting with Bessent went well.
- Bloomberg-based reporting identifies Hassett as a leading contender aligned with Trump’s push for lower rates, while the White House says no decision has been announced.
- Reporting indicates the pick may first be nominated to a Fed governorship before elevation to chair, with Jerome Powell’s chair term ending in May.