“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.

One of the Federal Reserve's five female regional bank presidents could replace U.S. central bank chief Jerome Powell, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday - an intriguing comment given that none of the 12 Fed regional bank presidents have signaled they are on board with the immediate cut in interest rates demanded by President Donald Trump.