Wall Street bets on 2026 rate rise as Kevin Warsh takes charge of the Fed

Kevin Warsh, whose broad criticism of current U.S. Federal Reserve officials, playbook for rate cuts, and ties to President Donald Trump elevated him past other contenders to lead the central bank, will be sworn in as Fed leader Friday at a pivotal moment for monetary policy and the American economy.

President Trump on Friday morning will swear-in Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve during a ceremony at the White House.

His own words serve as a baseline for what to look for as he settles into his ​new role as Fed chair.

At the same moment, inflation is high and potentially heading higher as the economy copes with shocks including oil driven over $100 a barrel by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, high import tariffs, and utility and other costs rising due to the AI rollout.