“Bessent is trying to show Trump there is a path to get what he wants without unnecessary market turmoil,” said Stephen Myrow, managing partner at Beacon Policy Advisors. That path would involve allowing Powell to finish out his term as chair and stepping down from the Federal Reserve board once his chairmanship is up.

While there are mixed signals about whether Trump plans to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has come to his defense in a new interview.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday he believes the Federal Reserve system should be reviewed for potentially holding back the US economy, which is “on the cusp” of growth that could equal the dot-com boom seen in the 1990s.