Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, is emerging as a leading candidate to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. According to multiple sources, Hassett is standing out as Trump considers appointing a Fed leader whose views align more closely with his own. Whether Hassett will ultimately be nominated is still uncertain. However, sources say that Hassett has advantages that others do not. He is the head of the National Economic Council and previously served as a key economic advisor during Trump's first term. Hassett has been working for Trump for nearly a decade and is one of the few advisors who has both earned the president's trust and maintained a good relationship over the long term. After holding two positions in the first Trump administration, he joined a private equity firm founded by Trump's son-in-law Kushner and provided economic policy advice to Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. Additionally, Hassett is seen as a disciplined and media-savvy spokesperson, qualities that Trump has long valued in his senior appointees. Evercore IS points out that Hassett's biggest challenge will be to prove to the market that, despite being a loyal supporter of Trump, he can still maintain enough independence while serving as Fed chairman to uphold the Fed's reputation.