Trump says he's "thinking about" Janet Yellen for Fed chair
President Trump on Wednesday said he is "thinking about" keeping Janet Yellen on as chair of the Federal Reserve Board — even though Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said the president on Tuesday asked senators, by a show of hands, whether they liked Jerome Powell or John Taylor for the job.
Mr. Trump made the remarks about Yellen to Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs in an interview airing Wednesday, as he is expected to announce his pick for the position soon. Dobbs told Mr. Trump he believes Yellen "might be worth keeping."
"I tell you what, she was in my office three days ago," Mr. Trump responded. "She was very impressive. I like her a lot. I mean, it's somebody that I am thinking about. I would certainly think about it."
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But on Tuesday at the Senate GOP caucus meeting, Cornyn said Mr. Trump asked for a show of hands as to whether he should select Powell, currently a Fed governor, or Taylor, a Stanford University economist.
On the campaign trail, Mr. Trump has bashed Yellen, indicating he would oust her from her position. But since then, he's had a chance to meet and talk with her. Last week in a different interview with Fox News, Mr. Trump said he could pick both Powell and Taylor, although he hadn't ruled out Yellen.
"Well as you know I -- I've been seeing a number of people and most people are saying it's down to two, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Powell," Mr. Trump told Fox News. "I also met with Janet Yellen, who I like a lot. I really like her a lot. So I have three people that I'm looking at. And there are a couple of others. I said I will make my decision very shortly."