President Trump’s national economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said Sunday that reports that international leaders are warning that U.S. tariffs may lead to a global recession are wrong.
Kudlow during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” denied that world leaders are expressing concern over Trump’s ongoing trade war with China. {mosads}
CNN played a clip of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, one of Trump’s closest allies, during a meeting at the Group of 7 (G-7) summit in Biarritz, France. In it, Johnson expresses doubt over Trump’s increasing tariffs, as other leaders have throughout the summit.
“I’m not sure I agree with how you portray that. I was in that meeting,” Kudlow pushed back.
“That’s a quote,” CNN’s Brianna Keilar responded.
“Sometimes, you’re taking a quote out of context,” Kudlow said
Kudlow said the “total context” of Johnson’s remarks was in support of Trump’s policies.
Kudlow told CNN that the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France has “gone very well.”
“Better than we thought, with a very positive vibe. I would go so far and say that it’s been a solid gathering,” Kudlow said.
The top economic adviser also pushed back on widespread warnings that the tariffs will hurt working-class Americans.
“Whatever little hit [there is] from tariffs, is being dwarfed by the tax cuts,” he said.
Kudlow said during another interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that he wants to “disabuse so much of this recession talk out there. It just ain’t so.”
He added that administration officials are “not worried about a recession.”
–This report was updated at 10:59 a.m.