A week after National Economic Council (NEC) director Gary Cohn stepped down over his disagreement with President Donald Trump on the issue of tariffs, it is being reported that Cohn’s successor has been chosen.
According to CNBC, Larry Kudlow will be named the new NEC chairman by Thursday.
Here is the tweet:
BREAKING: President Trump to name Larry Kudlow NEC chairman as early as tomorrow, sources say. https://t.co/SDzQDl7MGu pic.twitter.com/dxwkDNFhTj
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 14, 2018
More from the business news network:
When Cohn left, Kudlow expressed his disappointment with the move. On Tuesday, the president said he would welcome disagreement from Kudlow if he chose him for the post.
“We don’t agree on everything, but in this case I think that’s good,” Trump said. “I want to have different opinions. We agree on most. He now has come around to believing in tariffs as a negotiating point.”
Trump won the presidency partly on his promises to shred or renegotiate U.S. trade deals and crack down on trade practices he deems unfair. He argued the North American Free Trade Agreement, in particular, sapped manufacturing jobs from the United States.
The National Economic Council director advises the president on economic issues and works to implement policy goals. Cohn helped to shepherd the Republican tax law, Trump’s signature achievement in office so far, through its passage in December.
Kudlow also supported the tax bill.
Kudlow helped to craft economic policy during the Reagan administration. He informally advised Trump on taxes and other economic issues during his 2016 run for president.
The announcement isn’t that big of a deal.
Kudlow has opposed the president on the issue of tariffs, but he has been overall supportive of Trump on a diverse array of issues.
He won’t make things better or worse.
Kudlow has been fun to watch on CNBC.
Photo by Gage Skidmore.
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