President Trump appoints a new economic adviser
Larry Kudlow is the quintessential member of the Republican Party’s business wing
GARY COHN resigned from office on March 6th after President Donald Trump unveiled tariffs on aluminium and steel imports. On March 14th his replacement as the president’s top economic adviser was confirmed. Larry Kudlow, a 70-year-old television pundit, will soon assume the role, which does not require confirmation in the Senate.
Mr Kudlow, like Mr Cohn, advocates free trade. He has not hidden his opposition to Mr Trump’s tariffs. On March 3rd he wrote an online column deriding them as tax rises in disguise that would, supposedly, put 5m jobs in harm’s way. On his appointment, Mr Kudlow told the Associated Press that he is “in accord” with the president’s policy, though still opposes the tariffs. For his part, Mr Trump says he has talked Mr Kudlow around to supporting tariffs as a “negotiating point”.
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline "From Gary to Larry"
From the March 17th 2018 edition
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