Business June 3, 2019

Top Economic Adviser Is Leaving The White House

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 10: White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett talks to reporters about the Trump Administration's economic policy during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House September 10, 2018 in Washington, DC. Hassett said that it is not entirely accurate to credit to the Obama Administration's economic policy for the growth since January 2017, when Trump took office. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Kevin Hassett, is leaving his position at the end of the month. Hassett has held the post since September 2017, making him one of the longest-serving prominent members of the Trump administration.

Kevin Hassett, who has done such a great job for me and the Administration, will be leaving shortly. His very talented replacement will be named as soon as I get back to the U.S. I want to thank Kevin for all he has done – he is a true friend!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019

Hassett has stated he isn’t a fan of tariffs, so some are questioning whether Trump’s threat of tariffs on Mexican goods played a role in his departure. It’s something he denied today on CNBC.

.@WhiteHouseCEA Chairman Kevin Hassett on why he decided to leave his post, in his first TV interview since the announcement pic.twitter.com/34hvj73lhE
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) June 3, 2019

The Wall Street Journal writes:

One potential successor to Mr. Hassett could be the CEA’s chief economist, Casey Mulligan, an economics professor at the University of Chicago. The two other members of the council are Tomas Philipson, a health economist from the University of Chicago, and Tyler Goodspeed, who has researched the history of money and banking.