Trump considers ex-Microsoft executive as top economic adviser - official

 

FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives Chris Liddell hold up a chart showing the processes involved with making a federal highway during an event on deregulation at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

(Reuters) - Chris Liddell, a former executive at Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> and General Motors Co <GM.N>, is under consideration to become U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, a White House official said on Sunday, confirming media reports.

 

Trump is searching for a new director for the White House National Economic Council after Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs <GS.N> president, said he would resign. Cohn's decision came after Trump decided to put tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

 

Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to Trump who promoted the tariffs, has also been touted as a candidate for the top economic job, though he has said he is not in the running. Conservative commentator Larry Kudlow has also been cited as a contender.

 

Liddell's background running major companies and his behind-the-scenes efficiency at the White House has made him an attractive candidate, the official said.

 

Liddell, 59, has earned respect at the White House for his work on projects like information technology modernisation and electronic health records, which have required intensive coordination with government agencies, the official said.

 

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington and Scott DiSavino in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-12

1 hour ago, webfact said:

during an event on deregulation at the White House

having lived there for many years, the USA is a generally overstructured place ; example , at the local level, a restaurant has to have and maintain so many licenses and certifications that it requires a whole wall to display them

Whoever he appoints, they won't be there long. He might as well employ the family pet dog.

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

having lived there for many years, the USA is a generally overstructured place ; example , at the local level, a restaurant has to have and maintain so many licenses and certifications that it requires a whole wall to display them

 

You seem to be suggesting that some of these licenses are superfluous.  Which would you suggest getting rid of? Safety inspection? Health department grade?