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TV pundit Lawrence Kudlow 'to be Trump economic adviser' TV pundit Lawrence Kudlow 'to be Trump economic adviser'
(35 minutes later)
Television commentator Lawrence Kudlow has said he accepted the role of top economic adviser to US president Donald Trump, US media report. Television commentator Lawrence Kudlow says he has accepted the role of top economic adviser to US president Donald Trump.
Mr Kudlow will reportedly lead the National Economic Council after Gary Cohn quit last week.Mr Kudlow will reportedly lead the National Economic Council after Gary Cohn quit last week.
Mr Cohn resigned after disagreeing with Mr Trump about his plan for tariffs on metal imports.Mr Cohn resigned after disagreeing with Mr Trump about his plan for tariffs on metal imports.
Mr Kudlow, a former Bear Stearns investment banker, is currently a pundit on business news channel CNBC.Mr Kudlow, a former Bear Stearns investment banker, is currently a pundit on business news channel CNBC.
"The president offered me the position last evening and I accepted," he told Reuters news agency on Thursday."The president offered me the position last evening and I accepted," he told Reuters news agency on Thursday.
The White House has yet to confirm his hiring.The White House has yet to confirm his hiring.
Mr Kudlow was an early supporter of Mr Trump, and is a well-known conservative voice.Mr Kudlow was an early supporter of Mr Trump, and is a well-known conservative voice.
What is his background?What is his background?
He was born in New Jersey and studied at the University of Rochester and Princeton's school of public and international affairs.He was born in New Jersey and studied at the University of Rochester and Princeton's school of public and international affairs.
His career in economics started with a junior position at the New York branch of the Federal Reserve.His career in economics started with a junior position at the New York branch of the Federal Reserve.
He moved to work as an economist for Wall Street firms and for former President Ronald Reagan in Washington, where he helped to make the case for the first round of 1980s tax cuts.He moved to work as an economist for Wall Street firms and for former President Ronald Reagan in Washington, where he helped to make the case for the first round of 1980s tax cuts.
In 1994, Mr Kudlow spoke to the New York Times about battling drug and alcohol addiction, saying he hoped his story would help others in the position. The problem had led to his resignation as chief economist from the Bear Sterns investment bank.In 1994, Mr Kudlow spoke to the New York Times about battling drug and alcohol addiction, saying he hoped his story would help others in the position. The problem had led to his resignation as chief economist from the Bear Sterns investment bank.
Mr Kudlow, who calls himself a "long-run optimist", subsequently re-invented himself as a media personality, hosting radio and television programmes, including for the business news channel CNBC, where he remains a contributor.Mr Kudlow, who calls himself a "long-run optimist", subsequently re-invented himself as a media personality, hosting radio and television programmes, including for the business news channel CNBC, where he remains a contributor.
Analysis: BBC US business reporter Joe MillerAnalysis: BBC US business reporter Joe Miller
In his trademark blue pinstripe shirts and monogrammed cufflinks, Larry Kudlow has been a fixture on US financial television for more than a decade, and a reliable cheerleader for American business.In his trademark blue pinstripe shirts and monogrammed cufflinks, Larry Kudlow has been a fixture on US financial television for more than a decade, and a reliable cheerleader for American business.
A proponent of lower taxes, Mr Kudlow made his name at the ill-fated Bear Stearns before working in the Reagan administration.A proponent of lower taxes, Mr Kudlow made his name at the ill-fated Bear Stearns before working in the Reagan administration.
He initially opposed Donald Trump's presidential bid, and has repeatedly criticised the White House for it's attacks on free trade - including the recently announced tariffs.He initially opposed Donald Trump's presidential bid, and has repeatedly criticised the White House for it's attacks on free trade - including the recently announced tariffs.
But the president, who once worked as a Wall St pundit alongside Mr Kudlow, was reportedly won over by his TV presentation skills.But the president, who once worked as a Wall St pundit alongside Mr Kudlow, was reportedly won over by his TV presentation skills.
Where does he stand on the issues?Where does he stand on the issues?
Mr Kudlow is known as a "supply side" economist - a champion of lower taxes, which he says spur consumer spending and lead to economic growth.Mr Kudlow is known as a "supply side" economist - a champion of lower taxes, which he says spur consumer spending and lead to economic growth.
He is also a self-described "inflation hawk" - though he has called recent concerns "misplaced".He is also a self-described "inflation hawk" - though he has called recent concerns "misplaced".
As an ardent free-trader, he has defended the North American Free Trade Agreement and was critical of President Trump's recent plan to impose 25% tariffs on foreign steel and 10% tariffs on foreign aluminium.As an ardent free-trader, he has defended the North American Free Trade Agreement and was critical of President Trump's recent plan to impose 25% tariffs on foreign steel and 10% tariffs on foreign aluminium.
But he praised the president for exempting Mexico and Canada. He has also urged targeted action against China, especially when it comes to intellectual property.But he praised the president for exempting Mexico and Canada. He has also urged targeted action against China, especially when it comes to intellectual property.
Those views make him a fairly typical, establishment Republican - which makes it a bit of a surprise that Mr Kudlow also was a member of the left-wing Students for a Democratic Society.Those views make him a fairly typical, establishment Republican - which makes it a bit of a surprise that Mr Kudlow also was a member of the left-wing Students for a Democratic Society.
What is the reaction?What is the reaction?
FreedomWorks, a conservative group that advocates for lower taxes, had urged Mr Trump to select Mr Kudlow,FreedomWorks, a conservative group that advocates for lower taxes, had urged Mr Trump to select Mr Kudlow,
Others have been more sceptical.Others have been more sceptical.
David Stockman, Mr Kudlow's former boss during the Reagan administration, told the Washington Post in 2016 that Mr Kudlow's prediction that tax cuts would lead to growth was "dead wrong". Instead, he said the cuts led to budget deficits.David Stockman, Mr Kudlow's former boss during the Reagan administration, told the Washington Post in 2016 that Mr Kudlow's prediction that tax cuts would lead to growth was "dead wrong". Instead, he said the cuts led to budget deficits.
More recently, he has warned that Mr Kudlow would not be able to rein in the president.More recently, he has warned that Mr Kudlow would not be able to rein in the president.
"As much as I love him ... Larry's voice is exactly the wrong voice that Donald Trump ought to be hearing as we go forward," he told CNBC."As much as I love him ... Larry's voice is exactly the wrong voice that Donald Trump ought to be hearing as we go forward," he told CNBC.
Liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has been sharply critical, noting that Mr Kudlow missed signs of the housing bubble and recession.Liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has been sharply critical, noting that Mr Kudlow missed signs of the housing bubble and recession.
"At least he's reliable -- that is, he's reliably wrong about everything," Mr Krugman tweeted."At least he's reliable -- that is, he's reliably wrong about everything," Mr Krugman tweeted.
Indeed in December 2007 - just as the recession was beginning - Mr Kudlow wrote in the National Review: "There's no recession coming. The pessimistas were wrong. It's not going to happen."Indeed in December 2007 - just as the recession was beginning - Mr Kudlow wrote in the National Review: "There's no recession coming. The pessimistas were wrong. It's not going to happen."