Trump's tariff announcement might be the final straw for his top economic adviser
President Trump's top economic adviser, who spent months trying to keep Trump from imposing steep tariffs, might not be sticking around much longer.
Gary Cohn is one of the few moderates in Trump's White House, and rumors have long swirled that he's been close to leaving. Trump announced Thursday he will enact a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports, after Cohn tried, in a last-ditch effort, to convince him on Wednesday not to go through with his plan, several people told Politico. Cohn is "passionate" in his belief that "protectionism is economically backward and won't lead to increased prosperity," Politico reports, and several other members of the Trump administration, including National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, agreed with him.
Cohn almost resigned as director of the National Economic Council last summer, after Trump said there were "good people on both sides" of the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, but he stayed put to push through the Republican tax overhaul, Politico reports. His allies are not sure if the tariff announcement is the last straw, but it's a major blow to Cohn, who fought with White House trade adviser and tariff advocate Peter Navarro over the plan. In the end, Cohn's arguments against the tariffs meant nothing — several people told Politico that Trump, infuriated by all of the negative press his staff has been receiving, was "dead-set" on imposing tariffs.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 22, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - dystopian laughs, WNBA salaries, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published