President Donald Trump said he wants the newly appointed Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, to be "totally independent" and to "do his own thing" [1].

The statement comes as the U.S. monitors the relationship between the executive branch and the central bank, which manages monetary policy to control inflation and employment.

Warsh was sworn in as the 11th chairman of the Federal Reserve [2] during a ceremony held at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 2026 [3]. During the event, Trump said he wants the new chair to act without political pressure [4].

"I want him to be totally independent," Trump said [5].

Warsh took office at a time when the administration has expressed a preference for policies such as lower interest rates [6]. Despite these preferences, the president said that the chair should operate independently to maintain the integrity of the institution [7].

Warsh said that he intends to lead a reform-oriented central bank as he begins his tenure [8]. The appointment marks a transition in leadership for the Federal Reserve, which is designed to operate as an independent agency to shield the U.S. economy from short-term political influence [9].

Trump said he supports an autonomous approach during the swearing-in, reiterating that Warsh should be free to make decisions based on economic data rather than political directives [10].

“"I want him to be totally independent and do his own thing."”

The appointment of Kevin Warsh and the president's public call for independence address a long-standing tension between the White House and the Federal Reserve. While the president has signaled a desire for lower interest rates, the formal independence of the Fed is critical for market stability and investor confidence in the U.S. dollar. The focus on a 'reform-oriented' approach suggests that while Warsh may operate independently, the structural goals of the central bank could shift under his leadership.