Trump to Swear in Warsh at White House, Markets Watch: Will He Heed President's Call for Rate Cuts?
According to a White House official, President Trump will personally preside over the swearing-in ceremony for incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh at the White House on Friday. Warsh, set to become the 17th Fed chair and its wealthiest ever, succeeds Jerome Powell. The White House ceremony underscores Trump's high level of personal interest in this appointment, contrasting with Powell's 2018 internal Fed swearing-in, which Trump did not attend. This marks the first White House Fed chair oath-taking since Alan Greenspan in 1987.
The ceremony concludes an unusually prolonged transition at the central bank. Powell, whose term ended last weekend, has remained as acting chair pending Warsh's Senate confirmation and will stay on the Fed Board for an unspecified period.
Warsh assumes leadership at a complex time, with the U.S.-Israel war on Iran exacerbating inflationary pressures and complicating the policy outlook. Critics have raised concerns about his independence from the White House. While Trump has expressed expectations for near-term rate cuts, Warsh pledged independence during his confirmation hearings but also sharply criticized the Fed's recent performance.
marsbit05/19 02:02
