CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow will replace Gary Cohn as Trump’s top economic adviser

Kudlow began his career as a staff economist at the New York Federal Reserve before joining President Ronald Reagan’s administration as associate director for economics at the Office of Management and Budget.

Kudlow was then the chief economist for Bear Stearns from 1987 to 1994, when he was fired due to struggles with a cocaine addiction.

After Kudlow sought treatment, he became a media presence advocating for free-market, low-tax economics in the same vein as his former boss, Reagan. Most notably, Kudlow began appearing on CNBC in 2001, co-hosted a show with Jim Cramer from 2002 to 2005, anchored his own program through 2014, and continues to appear frequently on the network.

During Trump’s run in 2016, Kudlow expressed support for Trump and acted as an informal adviser to the then-candidate. Following the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump bragged about groping women, Kudlow said he was considering writing in Mike Pence on his ballot. He eventually backed Trump.

In the early days of the administration, Kudlow was considered to be chair of the Council of Economic Advisers but was passed over due to his vocal disagreement with Trump on trade policy. Kudlow favors free-trade policies, contrary to Trump’s more protectionist leanings.