Kevin Hassett, White House economic adviser and a frontrunner to lead the Federal Reserve, acknowledged on Sunday that while the central bank must operate independently, President Donald Trump’s perspectives carry significance.

Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Hassett, who chairs the National Economic Council, said he consults with Trump on a wide range of economic issues nearly every day. “I’ve certainly talked about monetary policy,” he noted when asked whether he would routinely seek the president’s input if appointed to replace Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.

Hassett stressed that the Fed’s ultimate responsibility is independence. “He [Trump] has very strong and well-founded views about what we ought to do. But in the end, the job of the Fed is to be independent,” Hassett said.

Asked whether the president’s opinions would carry equal weight to votes from the Fed’s Board of Governors, Hassett replied, “No, no… he would have no weight. It’s just his opinion matters if it’s good, you know, if it’s based on data.”

Trump has publicly indicated Hassett, 63, as his preferred candidate to replace Powell. Hassett previously served as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during Trump’s first term and is a frequent media presence defending administration policies.

Hassett’s remarks come shortly after the Fed’s latest move to cut interest rates for a third time in 2025. On Wednesday, the central bank lowered rates by a quarter percentage point to a range of 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent, citing labour market concerns amid persistent inflation and ongoing trade tensions.

During his interview, Hassett also referenced Kevin Warsh, another potential Fed candidate, suggesting that he too would discuss policies with the president if appointed.