01 September, 2017
In an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Friday, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn seemed to downplay any turmoil between him and President Donald Trump when asked about his future in the White House.
The President has also found himself increasingly at odds with Cohn over their views on trade, deriding Cohn as a "globalist" in meetings with others and in Cohn's presence, a source close to the White House said.
Trump has grown more frustrated as Cohn and other top advisors publicly challenge or contradict him, according to The Washington Post.
'This administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities, ' Cohn said of white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan mobs.
The president campaigned heavily on his tax reform policies, saying he wanted to lower taxes, decrease regulations and increase infrastructure spending but detractors claim Trump is too focused on lowering rates at the high end and for giving tax breaks to multinational corporations - like his own.
She pointed out Mr Trump didn't recognise Mr Cohn by name at an Aug 15 news conference in which the president made controversial remarks on the Virginia violence, even though Mr Cohn was standing beside Mr Trump. "They're both working hard and extremely committed to providing tax relief for middle-class America", she said.
Now, Bannon's exit from the White House has left fewer influential voices at the President's side pushing for tough trade action, leaving Trump increasingly isolated on the issue.
Sanders also said that Trump and Cohn are both dedicated to tax reform. We were out in Missouri talking about taxes.
"I'm going to be right here doing what I am right now", Cohn said, laughing. "Gary has not held back", Sanders said.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Wednesday on the ride home from Missouri that the president didn't snub Cohn on goal.
"It's pretty standard practice for us not to specifically call out staff", Sanders said in a press gaggle aboard Air Force One after the president's speech.
'Look, Gary is here.
"Gary is here. The President is here".
