The White House’s top economist is leaving, President Trump revealed in a tweet Sunday night.
“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!” Trump tweeted Sunday night as he traveled to Europe for a five-day trip.
Hassett, who chairs the Council of Economic Advisers and helped craft Trump’s signature tax overhaul in 2017, departs as Trump grapples with mounting trade wars with China and Mexico.
Conservative economist Hassett has normally pushed free trade policies but has recently had to defend Trump’s use of tariffs to pressure US economic rivals.
Still, he denied Trump’s policies had anything to do with his departure.
“The trade story and the departure story are completely different stories,” he said Sunday evening.
He gave his notice last week and plans to stick around for roughly another month.
Hassett, who joined the administration in September 2017, said he considered the job a two-year position.
The adviser made headlines earlier this year when he suggested that furloughed federal employees were “better off” because they were getting a free vacation.
With Post wires


