TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The Trump administration is downplaying reports that White House chief economist Gary Cohn is planning to leave the West Wing because of frustrations over the implementation of steel and aluminum tariffs.
After President Donald Trump announced the US would impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports last week, one person familiar with Cohn’s thinking described him as furious at the trade moves, which — aside from the economic consequences — left him feeling like he’s lost influence with the President… Cohn doesn’t appear to be leaving the administration imminently since there’s still a chance the tariffs could ultimately fail to materialize. But after months of speculation about his departure, he appears ready to pull the exit slide, the person close to him said… Cohn was on the brink of resigning last summer after Trump’s likened white supremacists to counterprotesters after deadly clashes between the groups in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Cohn, a high-profile Jewish member of the administration and former Goldman Sachs executive, said Trump’s handling of the Charlottesville violence and protests caused him ‘distress.’ He said the administration ‘can and must do better’ to condemn hate groups.”
-Maegan Vazquez, “Trump administration pushes back on reports Cohn is mulling White House exit,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Mar. 4, 2018 12:45pm