Trump signals he has a favorite for Fed chair: 'Down to maybe one, in my mind'

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is nearing the end of a search to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and hinted he has his candidate in mind.

In a CNBC interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president said a search that began in September and once included as many as 11 candidates is nearly over.

“I’d say we’re down to three, but we’re down to two. And I probably can tell you, we’re down to maybe one, in my mind,” the president said to CNBC’s Joe Kernen. Still, Trump declined to name the one.

The candidate list included past and current Fed officials, economists and Wall Street investors.

The finalists had been widely believed to be Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, current Governor Christopher Waller, National Economic Council chief Kevin Hassett and BlackRock fixed income head Rick Rieder. Trump in the interview said Rieder, the last to interview, is “impressive” and praised all the candidates.