Semafor Reports Hassett Expected to Leave White House; Hassett and White House Deny It
Photo: The New RepublicNational Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is expected to leave his White House post in the coming weeks, Semafor reported Friday, citing three people familiar with his plans. Some of those people said Hassett had been asking about roles outside the administration since well before this month's midterm elections. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who could hold both jobs, and his counselor David Zervos were named as people being considered to replace him. Hassett's plans have not been officially announced, and Semafor noted they could change. The Treasury Department did not comment.
Hassett told CNBC's Eamon Javers by text on Friday that the report was "not true." A White House official said there was no factual basis for the reporting, called Hassett a key member of President Donald Trump's economic team, and cited $82 billion in individual tax relief and nearly 20 fair trade deals. Trump brought Hassett back, after his first-term service, as top economic adviser nearly two years ago.
The New Republic, on the left, led with the departure as fact, headlining that a top Trump adviser would quit after a stinging election defeat. It tied the move to Republican midterm losses, when Democrats flipped the House and Senate, and to a poll showing 67 percent of Americans disapproving of Trump's handling of the economy. It used sharply critical language about Hassett and said he lied about prices. It also mentioned renewed calls to remove Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The excerpt of its article did not include the denials from Hassett or the White House. The Hill and Semafor, the independent outlets, focused on sourcing and the pushback. The Hill led with Hassett's denial, while Semafor gave the White House's full statement. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing.
How the sides differ Left sources present Hassett's exit as expected and tie it to midterm losses and economic weakness; alternative sources stress the White House and Hassett denials. Right sources have not covered it.
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The New Republic presents Hassett's exit as expected, linking it to midterm losses and weak economic polling in sharply critical terms, and mentions Lutnick; its excerpt omits the denials.
Semafor reports the departure with three anonymous sources and the White House's full denial; The Hill leads with Hassett's and the White House's denials.