U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh is his top choice to lead the U.S. central bank, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell's leadership term ends next May.

But Trump did not rule out National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett as another choice.

"Yes, I think he is. I think you have Kevin and Kevin. They're both — I think the two Kevins are great," said Trump in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Last week, Trump said he will announce his pick for the next chairperson of the Federal Reserve in early 2026.

The next Fed chair should consult with him on interest rates, said the president in the interview, though the Treasury-Federal Reserve Accord of 1951 enshrined the central bank's independence.

U.S. benchmark interest rate should be "1 percent and maybe lower than that," one year from now, said Trump.

The Fed on Wednesday lowered the target range for the federal funds interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5 to 3.75 percent, marking its third rate cut this year.