Christopher Waller, governor of the US Federal Reserve, speaks during the C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, US, on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesFederal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller had a “strong interview” for the central bank chair position with President Donald Trump in which the two discussed the labor market in depth and how to jumpstart job creation, according to senior administration officials.The interview took place in the president’s residence and concluded shortly before Trump addressed the nation on the economy Wednesday night. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino also attended the interview.Blackrock’s Rick Rieder will be interviewed at Mar-a-Lago for the Fed chair job the last week of the year, the officials said. Fed Governor Michelle Bowman is no longer a candidate for the job, they also said.National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the favorite for the job in prediction markets, and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh have previously been interviewed by Trump.The officials said the conversation about jobs with Waller showed concern and criticism was misplaced that the president was seeking a candidate based on the criteria that the next Fed chair would bow to the whims of the president on rates. They said the president’s interest in the interviews with candidates had been broad-based across a series of economic issues.Last week, Trump told The Wall Street Journal he thought the Fed Chair should consult with him on rates. “It doesn’t mean—I don’t think he should do exactly what we say,” the President said. “But certainly we’re—I’m a smart voice and should be listened to.”In the oval office on Thursday, Trump p …
