Andy Puzder on Trump economic role: ‘It would be an honor’ to serve

Former CKE Restaurants CEO Andy Puzder said on Monday that he owes “this country” a lot and that if asked he would gladly replace Gary Cohn as President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser.

“If the president asks you to serve, you serve,” he told FOX Business’ Charles Payne on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast.” “It would be an honor to be in this administration.”

During an interview with Maria Bartiromo on FOX Business, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged that Puzder would be a great pick to lead Trump’s National Economic Council.

Last Tuesday, Gary Cohn resigned from the post after Trump announced that he would impose tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum.

Though Puzder’s name was thrown into the mix of candidates to replace Cohn, three have caught the attention of most media outlets and experts.

White House official Christopher Liddell is the front-runner to become Trump’s next top economic adviser, The New York Times reported. Liddell, who is a former executive at Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and General Motors (NYSE:GM),  worked in politics before serving as executive director of transition planning for Mitt Romney’s failed presidential bid in 2012.

Another top contender is Larry Kudlow, who served as an official in the Reagan administration, and Peter Navarro, the president’s key trade adviser who supports the tariffs.

Puzder doesn’t have a personal favorite and considers each of them worthy candidates.

“I like most of the people that have been recommended,” Puzder told Payne. “Larry Kudlow is a friend; I like Larry. I know Chris Liddell; he’d do a very good job. Peter Navarro and I worked together in the campaign; I like Peter a lot.”