Christopher Waller Emerges as Contender in Trump’s Fed Search

A new candidate has gained traction in the race to replace Jerome Powell as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. 

According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, President Trump is scheduled to interview Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller on Wednesday as part of the search for a successor. 

Powell's term will end in May 2026, putting an end to an 8-year tenure where he faced significant challenges ranging from the pandemic‑era recession to the steepest inflation surge in four decades.

President Trump's disagreements with the Chairman have been more than public this year, which likely influenced the President's decision to pick a new Chair.

The disagreements mostly involved monetary policy, with Trump repeatedly criticizing Powell for keeping interest rates higher than he believes necessary to stimulate growth. While Powell emphasized the importance of a cautious Fed, Trump repeatedly pressed for deeper, faster interest rate cuts.

Join BloFin and qualify for up to $1,000 today

Start Trading

Fed Waller in the Race

The WSJ reported today that Christopher Waller is one of the likely candidates to take up the role. The U.S. President will be interviewing Waller on Wednesday, adding him to a shortlist that already includes former Fed governor Kevin Warsh and National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett.

Waller fits the demand for a more "dovish" Chairman. While the Committee had only begun cutting rates in September, Christopher Waller had been pushing for rate slashes as early as July. 

That said, Waller is still not the favorite to become the next Fed chair. According to the prediction market Polymarket, the platform still favors former Trump economic advisor Kevin Hassett to take up the role in 2026. 

Still, Waller’s inclusion in the shortlist underscores Trump’s determination to reshape the Fed in line with his preference for aggressive rate cuts and looser monetary policy, a shift that could mark a sharp departure from Powell’s cautious approach.