Bessent Emerges as Potential Fed Chair Candidate, White House Quickly Clarifies
Bloomberg reported this morning that, according to multiple sources, US Treasury Secretary Bessent is considered a potential candidate for the Federal Reserve Chair position. The position is currently held by Powell, with his term expected to end in May 2026:
The sources indicated that Trump highly values Bessent and believes he is capable of taking over the Federal Reserve. In addition to Bessent, former Federal Reserve Board member Kevin Warsh is also being considered.
(US Debt Ceiling Looming? JPMorgan Warns of Potential Debt Collapse, Bessent: US Will Never Default)
The White House quickly refuted these claims, stating that these are false reports and the official appointment process has not been initiated, attempting to quell speculation. However, Trump just last week stated that he will announce Powell's successor "very soon", which will undoubtedly become a global focus.
Trump and Powell's Policy Differences Are Not New
The tense relationship between Trump and Powell is not news, as he had repeatedly criticized Powell's policy pace as being slow to respond and suppressing economic recovery during his term, and even threatened to replace him.
(Is Trump Considering Removing Fed Chair Powell? White House Advisor: Still Under Study)
Bessent is viewed as an official with extremely strong policy implementation, currently leading a series of global trade strategies, tax initiatives, and regulatory reform actions in the Trump administration. If he were to take over as Federal Reserve Chair, it is expected to bring about a significant shift in the institution's decision-making approach, drawing close attention from market investors.
From London to Washington: Bessent Briefly Attends US-China Trade Negotiations, Returns Early
Amid rumors of Fed succession, Bessent was negotiating with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The two sides were holding their second day of talks at Lancaster House in London, focusing on contentious issues such as rare earth export restrictions.
(US-China Trade Restart Consensus: London Talks Reach New Framework Agreement)
Despite the meeting not being concluded, Bessent stated that due to a congressional hearing on June 11, he has returned to the United States early with Greer, while Lutnick will continue negotiations with the Chinese side as circumstances allow.
Leaving the venue, Bessent described the two-day talks as "productive" and emphasized that the remaining US representatives will continue to consult with the Chinese side based on developments. The US side aims to complete this round of negotiations before Tuesday evening local time in the UK.
Simultaneously, the Trump administration is accelerating bilateral trade negotiations with other countries including Mexico, India, and Japan. Choosing to make some technological control concessions to China at this time will undoubtedly impact the broader global supply chain and geopolitical landscape.
Risk Warning
Cryptocurrency investment carries high risk, and prices may fluctuate dramatically. You may lose all of your principal. Please carefully assess the risks.