Sticking too close becomes a resistance? The path of the Federal Reserve Chairman Haslet is changing, Washington's presence is increasing.

On Monday, several informed sources revealed that Kevin Hassett, the White House National Economic Council Director, once seen by the market as a "almost a sure thing" candidate, has recently encountered some resistance within high-level circles, and these individuals have close ties to President Trump. Informed sources said that some opposing voices are concerned that Hassett's relationship with Trump is too close. Ironically, it was this "closeness to the President" that initially made him a top candidate to succeed current Federal Reserve Chairman Powell. This disagreement is also seen as explaining why the candidate interviews scheduled for early December were cancelled at one point and later rescheduled, with at least former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh's interview having resumed last week. Last Friday, Trump said in an interview that former Federal Reserve Governor Warsh along with Hassett were leading the list of candidates for Federal Reserve chairman. This statement surprised the market and quickly affected market sentiment. Trump said, "I think both Kevins are great." On the prediction market Kalshi, Hassett still held the top position on Monday with a 51% probability, but it has dropped significantly from the high point of over 80% earlier this month; Warsh's chances have risen to 44%, a significant increase from around 11% in early December. Informed sources point out that this round of "resistance" is more about raising Warsh's profile rather than directly criticizing Hassett. At a JPMorgan event last Thursday, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon gave positive evaluations of both candidates, but some of his remarks were interpreted by those present as leaning more towards supporting Warsh. Media reports in late November stated that with Powell's term ending in May next year, Hassett had become the frontrunner to succeed him. However, in December, multiple sources said that concerns about his candidacy were growing in the market and policy circles, especially the worry that the bond market may have a "sharp reaction." Some warned that if investors believe Hassett is too influenced by Trump, they may question his independence when inflation rises, potentially pushing up long-term Treasury yields. This outcome may go against Trump's goal of lowering financing costs. In response to these concerns, Hassett recently made a rare and more explicit statement on the independence of the Federal Reserve in an interview. He said, "The President has very strong and informed views about what we should do. But ultimately, the Fed's responsibility is to maintain its independence, collaborate with the Board and FOMC to collectively form a consensus on the interest rate path." When asked if the President's views carry the same weight as voting central bank officials, Hassett responded clearly, "No, not at all. He has no weight. It's just his opinion, and it only has value if it's based on data and is reasonable."