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dw.com: https://www.dw.com/en/kevin-warsh-trumps-man-at-the-fed-or-independent-voice/a-77248236

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Source
GDELT news · original
Published
Thursday, May 21, 2026

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Among them is Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who described Warsh as Trump's "sock puppet” during his Senate confirmation hearing in April.

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Kevin Warsh: Trump's man at the Fed or independent voice? You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. Skip to content Skip to main menu Skip to more DW sites Latest videos Latest audio Regions Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East North America Germany Topics Climate Equality Health Human Rights Migration Technology Categories Business Science Environment Culture Sports In focus Ebola Ukraine Iran Latest audio Latest videos Live TV Advertisement Business United States of America Kevin Warsh: Trump's man at the Fed or independent voice? Nicolas Martin 05/21/2026 May 21, 2026 Never before has a chair of the US Federal Reserve been so controversial. Who is Kevin Warsh? Can he preserve the Fed's independence, or will he become Donald Trump's puppet? https://p.dw.com/p/5E7nI The Fed chair is one of the most powerful people in the US, overseeing the central bank's decisions on interest rates Image: Alastair Grant/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement US President Donald Trump will hold a swearing‑in ceremony on Friday for the new Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh — an unusual step, since Fed chairs are not normally sworn in at the White House, and presidents usually don't attend, given that the Fed is meant to be politically independent.  But some, particularly Democrats, question how independent Warsh will be as head of the world's most powerful central bank. Among them is Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who described Warsh as Trump's "sock puppet” during his Senate confirmation hearing in April. Stressing that independence requires courage, Warren asked Warsh: "Let's check out your independence and your courage. We'll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?” Warsh refused to answer directly, saying instead: "We try to keep politics, if I'm confirmed, out of the Federal Reserve.” "The hearing failed to dispel doubts about his independence," Claudia Sahm, chief economist at New Century Advisors and former economist at the Federal Reserve, told DW. This skepticism was then reflected in Warsh's confirmation vote — where only 54 senators voted in his favor while 45 voted against — "the narrowest majority by which a Fed chair has ever been confirmed," Sahm said. Can the US Federal Reserve stay independent? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A high-stakes appointment The Fed chair is one of the most powerful people in the US, overseeing the central bank's decisions on interest rates, which influence not just the banking sector and the dollar's exchange rate but also whether goods and services in the world's largest economy become more or less expensive. Those serving in that role are therefore expected to ensure price stability, maintain confidence in the financial system, and safeguard the stability of the global economy. But Trump has made no secret of what he expects from Warsh, saying that he would be "disappointe

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