Will Trump Announce the New Fed Chair on the Night of the Fed Decision?
On January 29, 2026, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce its decision to keep interest rates unchanged, with market consensus nearly 100%. While this outcome is widely anticipated, the focus will be on Chair Jerome Powell’s post-announcement press conference for signals on future monetary policy. Investors are divided over whether the Fed will continue its rate-cutting cycle later in the year or adopt a more hawkish stance due to persistent inflation, which remains at 2.8%, above the 2% target.
A key uncertainty is the potential announcement of a new Fed Chair nominee by former President Donald Trump, who has hinted at a January reveal. The shortlist includes Rick Rieder (currently the most probable candidate at 47%), Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller, and Kevin Hassett. Trump may use the FOMC meeting timing to divert market attention from any hawkish signals from Powell, instead promoting a dovish nominee to reassure markets.
The new composition of the voting members on the Fed’s rate-setting committee also leans more hawkish this year, which could influence future decisions regardless of the new Chair’s stance. The outcome of Powell’s remarks and a possible Trump announcement could significantly impact market sentiment.
比推01/28 14:47
