President Donald Trump said Friday he'll decide within three weeks on a nominee to lead the U.S. central bank, one of the most consequential economic decisions he will make since taking office.
"I've had four meetings for Fed chairman, and I'll be making a decision over the next two or three weeks," Trump told reporters before boarding the presidential helicopter at the White House. He's traveling to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey for the weekend.
He interviewed at least two candidates this week as he picked up the pace of his search for a Fed chair. Among his options is reappointing the current chair, Janet Yellen, whose term ends in February.
Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met Thursday with former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to discuss the job, two administration officials said.
Trump and Mnuchin also interviewed Federal Reserve governor Jerome Powell on Wednesday, a White House official said.
Financial stocks rose and bonds fell on the report of Warsh's meeting.
CEO John Allison and Columbia University economist Glenn Hubbard. Trump has said he's also considering White House National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn.
Powell had been regarded as a long-shot candidate, but not out of the running for Fed chair.
The only Republican currently on the Board of Governors, Powell, 64, has a a solid reputation among lawmakers from both parties and has ably led the Fed's regulatory efforts, albeit on a temporary basis, since Daniel Tarullo retired in April.
Before joining the Fed, Powell spent eight years at private equity firm Carlyle Group. He also served as a senior official at the U.S. Treasury under President George H. W. Bush.
The Fed declined to comment.
