Trump Threatens Again to Fire Fed Chairman Jay Powell

President Donald Trump teased that he has a preferred candidate to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve but is in no hurry to make an announcement — while also musing that he might fire the central bank’s current leader, Jerome Powell, Josh Wingrove and Kate Sullivan reported for Bloomberg News.

The president came close to seeking Powell’s ouster in July but backed away after a negative reaction in financial markets. (Photo: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Facebook)

“I do, still do — hasn’t changed,” Trump said at a press conference when asked if he has a favorite candidate. “I’ll announce him at the right time. There’s plenty of time.”

He added that Powell “should resign” and that he’d “love to fire him.”

The president came close to seeking Powell’s ouster in July but backed away after a negative reaction in financial markets.

“Maybe I still might,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump did not specify who his leading candidate is and said an announcement would be made “sometime in January.”

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has been widely seen as the frontrunner, though Trump has also expressed interest in former Fed governor Kevin Warsh.

Other finalists have included current Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, as well as BlackRock’s Rick Rieder, John Harney, and Derek Wallbank also reported for Bloomberg News.