United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday appointed television commentator Lawrence Kudlow his chief economic adviser, The Washington Post reported.
“Larry Kudlow was offered, and accepted, the position of assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council,” BBC quoted White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders as saying. “We will work to have an orderly transition and will keep everyone posted on the timing of him officially assuming the role.”
Kudlow succeeds Gary Cohn at the helm of the National Economic Council. Cohn reportedly quit in opposition to Trump’s plans to impose heavy tariffs on aluminium and steel imports that have triggered fears of a global trade war.
Kudlow, a commentator at CNBC and a long-time associate of the president, has also been critical of the Trump’s approach to tariffs, the Financial Times reported. But he agrees with the necessity of using tariffs in some cases to protect the American workers. His views align more closely with the president’s stance on deregulation and tax cuts.
Kudlow had advised Trump during the 2016 election campaign and worked closely with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the design of the Republican Party’s tax plan.
Kudlow, who grew up in New Jersey, was born in a family that owned a textile business. Earlier, he was the chief economist at the Wall Street firms Paine Webber and Bear Stearns.
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