Gary Cohn will resign from his position as head of the National Economic Council.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that Cohn is leaving his position, a move that comes after Trump announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum.
A statement from President Trump to The New York Times reads in part, “Gary has been my chief economic adviser and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again.”
“He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.”
Gary Cohn also said in a statement, “It has been an honor to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform. I am grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity.”
BREAKING: Gary Cohn to step down after losing fight over tariffs. @maggieNYT @katekelly https://t.co/GvwJizgVB9
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 6, 2018
Gary Cohn, President Trump’s top economic adviser, plans to resign. His free-trade views clashed with Trump’s threatened metal tariffs. https://t.co/ImVQnlKsXK pic.twitter.com/jm605PwMev
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) March 6, 2018
Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel last week.
“What’s been allowed to go on for decades is disgraceful,” Trump said at a meeting with industry leaders at the White House. “And when it comes to a time when our country can’t make aluminum and steel, and somebody said it before and I will tell you, you almost don’t have much of a country. Because without steel and aluminum, your country is not the same. We need it.” (RELATED: Trump Announces New Tariffs On Aluminum And Steel)