[Hassett: Willing to Serve as Fed Chair if Given the Opportunity, Advocates for Larger Rate Cuts] According to a report by Jinse Finance, Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council, stated that he has informed President Trump that he would accept the position if nominated to replace Jerome Powell as the Federal Reserve Chair. Hassett added that he hopes to implement larger rate cuts at the December policy meeting. Hassett is one of the candidates named by Trump. He expressed surprise that Powell did not take more aggressive rate cuts in the context of the prolonged government shutdown and better-than-expected inflation data. Hassett said, 'I think the President believes rates could be lower, and I agree with that.' He noted that he sees justification for a 50-basis-point rate cut but expects the Fed to only cut rates by 25 basis points. Hassett believes that for every week the government remains shut down, U.S. GDP decreases by approximately $15 billion and pointed out that September's inflation data was lower than expected.