President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly eyeing Fox Business host Larry Kudlow for a top economic role in his administration.
Kudlow – who served as the director of the National Economic Council during Trump’s first administration – met with the president-elect late this week, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
The 77-year-old former CNBC contributor is being considered to lead the NEC or possibly the Treasury Department, sources told the Journal.
Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On his weekday Fox show, Kudlow has praised Trump’s proposed policies – most recently applauding the president-elect’s Cabinet appointments for “[shaking] up the Washington, D.C. establishment.”
Kudlow’s allies have been making direct appeals to Trump to bring the econ expert back for his second administration, sources told the Journal.
The Fox star has become a more likely choice as tensions have heated up in a race between Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department, the report said.
Lutnick and Bessent’s allies have each been aggressively campaigning for their candidate and making the case against the other in a “cold war” that has irritated Trump, the Journal said based on Trump advisers and sources.
Trump and his team have also floated Robert Lighthizer, who was the US trade representative during Trump’s first administration, and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan for roles including Treasury secretary, the report said.
Rowan met with Trump in New York ahead of the election to discuss the state of the economy, sources told the Journal.
The two have not had another meeting since the election, sources said.
Sources told the Journal Trump has not made a decision as of late Thursday and is expected to continue discussions throughout Friday.
One Trump decides on a Treasury secretary, the other candidates will likely be considered to head the NEC, the report said.
So far, Trump has announced more than 10 planned nominees for his Cabinet, including controversial picks like vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the health department, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary and former Representative Matt Gaetz, who has been accused of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, as attorney general.