Insider news: Trump

According to sources, Trump plans to narrow down the list of candidates for US Treasury Secretary this week and prefers someone with a Wall Street background. The list includes Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald; hedge fund billionaire John Paulson; former George Soros fund manager Scott Bessent; and Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia and former executive at Carlyle Group.

Sources said that Bessent met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, but the meeting was not an interview for the position of Treasury Secretary. Insiders revealed that Trump's Wall Street allies urged him to appoint someone with a deep understanding of the financial industry as Treasury Secretary, and Trump's team has indicated they will follow this advice.

Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative during Trump's first term and designer of comprehensive tariff proposals is also one candidate for Treasury Secretary. Those familiar with the matter say that Lighthizer has begun formulating tariff plans involving China and EU. He may ultimately hold a broad role within the White House overseeing all government trade policies.