National Economic Council Director Hassett has reaffirmed the Federal Reserve's independence, stating that President Trump's opinions on interest rate policy "carry no weight." Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," Hassett emphasized that even if nominated by Trump as Federal Reserve Chairman, he would adhere to the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) consensus-based decision-making process. This statement comes after Trump expressed a desire to influence interest rate settings and considered Hassett or former Governor Warsh as potential successors to current Chairman Powell, whose term ends in May 2026.