Trump Says Fed Pick Kevin Warsh Could Win Democratic Support in Senate Confirmation

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that his nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, could secure votes from Senate Democrats during what is expected to be a closely watched and potentially contentious confirmation process. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described Warsh as a “high-quality person” who should have little difficulty being confirmed once his nomination moves forward.

Trump formally selected Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and longtime central banking insider, to succeed current Fed Chair Jerome Powell when Powell’s term as chair ends in May. Although Powell will remain on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors through 2028, the leadership transition has already ignited political debate, particularly around monetary policy and the independence of the central bank.

The nomination comes as Senate Republicans hold slim majorities. On the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees Federal Reserve confirmations, Republicans have a narrow 13–11 edge. In the full Senate, the GOP’s majority is only three seats. That margin makes every vote critical, especially after Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he would block Warsh’s confirmation until the Justice Department completes an investigation into Powell.

The Justice Department probe, launched this month, is centered on cost overruns tied to a renovation project at the Fed’s Washington headquarters. Powell has denied wrongdoing and characterized the investigation as a pretext to pressure the central bank over interest rate policy. Trump has repeatedly criticized Powell, urging aggressive interest rate cuts to stimulate the economy and labeling the Fed chair “Too Late” for resisting faster action.

Trump has pushed back against Tillis, calling him an “obstructionist” and suggesting his administration could wait to confirm Warsh until after Tillis leaves the Senate. Despite the resistance, Trump hinted that Democratic senators could help advance the nomination, though he did not name specific lawmakers.

Asked about Warsh’s stance on interest rates, Trump said he expects rates to come down but emphasized that he did not seek explicit commitments from his nominee. Warsh, Trump said, would ultimately need to make his own decisions as Fed chair, reinforcing the high-stakes nature of the confirmation and its implications for U.S. monetary policy.