‘The war against success’ is over, Kudlow says in defending Trump tariffs

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With President Donald Trump heading to the Group of Seven meeting later this week, his top economic adviser appeared to bash Trump’s predecessor by telling reporters that a number of wars are “over.”

‘The war against success is over.’

Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council, said at the White House that Trump will discuss trade at the meeting in Quebec, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Kudlow also said Trump will have one-on-one meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Trump is facing outrage from U.S. allies including Canada over the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs. Kudlow downplayed tension with U.S. allies and instead sought to offer a business-friendly vision of the country as Trump prepares for the summit.

“The war against business is over. The war against success is over. The war against energy is over. We have now freed up the animal spirits,” Kudlow said after hailing the tax-cut law and deregulation.

The NEC chief’s comments echoed shots that Trump has taken at Barack Obama, including that the former president had waged a “war on coal.” In his State of the Union address in January, Trump said that war was over.

Kudlow denied a report that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recommended an exemption on steel and aluminum tariffs to the Canadians. “I talked to the Treasury Secretary earlier today,” Kudlow said. “This was funny. Neither of us said a word in that meeting. So that story is patently false.”