While President Trump has a list of five finalists for the next chair of the Federal Reserve, he said last week that he thinks he knows who he'll pick. "I think I already know my choice," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office regarding who will replace outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell,

The stock market faces significant challenges in the near term, including high valuations, a weakening economy, and dismal consumer sentiment.

Kevin Hassett, a top White House economic adviser, is said to become the front-runner to lead the Federal Reserve, raising questions about its independence.

The Fed didn't want to get embroiled in politics in 2025—or ever. But Bessent wants them even further out of the public eye.

In late September, Fed Chair Powell delivered a speech in Rhode Island, where he was questioned about the variables the Fed's Board of Governors considers when making monetary policy decisions. In particular, he was asked if movements in the stock market factor into the central bank's decision-making process.

The Federal Reserve’s stance has recently shifted from dovish to hawkish and back again, leaving investors uncertain about the prospect of aggressive U.S. interest rate cuts next year. But the central bank remains under political pressure to ease quickly.

Bets on Kevin Hassett becoming the next Federal Reserve chair have surged over the last 24 hours, placing him as clear favorite to succeed Jerome Powell next year.