Trump Needs Larry Kudlow

This weekend the New York Times reported that many Trump loyalists were not getting big jobs in the Trump administration.

It's not every day I am quoted accurately in the Times. But in Maggie Haberman's "Trump Isn’t Rewarding a Lot of Loyalists with Cabinet Jobs. Here's Why," I was.

I told the Times that it's not Trump’s style to ignore key supporters. There are many positions to fill, thousands in fact. It will take time.

And I also think that just because someone supported Trump, there is no rule that they should get a Cabinet appointment.

But there is one person who was a key Trump supporter that should. That’s Larry Kudlow.

Kudlow was a strong and an early supporter of Trump's presidential bid.

In fact, Kudlow broke ranks with many conservative circles to support Trump.

He went on, along with economist Stephen Moore, to be one of the architects of Trump's popular tax reform platform.

Kudlow's endorsement of his tax-cut plans were frequently mentioned by Trump on the campaign stump. There is no doubt in my mind that Kudlow helped Trump win the hotly contested GOP primary.

So far, Trump hasn’t appointed Kudlow to any top position.

But didn't I say supporting Trump shouldn't translate into a top job?

Trump should bring Kudlow on to his team for another reason.

Kudlow should be there because he will be crucial for the success of Trump's presidency – just as he was for Ronald Reagan when he served as a key player in the Gipper's economic team.

It was Reagan's embrace of the 25 percent Kemp-Roth tax cuts that ignited a period of incredible prosperity, one that has lasted for almost 30 years.

During the Reagan years the country witnessed GDP growth rates of over 8 percent! We have seen nothing like it since. During the Obama years, GDP has been at less than 2 percent on average, barely keeping up with inflation.

Kudlow's elegant and smart wife, Judy, also served in the Reagan administration. She recalled to me recently that it took a few years for the tax cuts to impact the economy. Only four officials – including her husband – stood with Reagan in keeping the tax cuts as a serious recession continued.

She suggested that if Trump hits just 4 percent GDP growth "nothing else matters" – the President will be easily re-elected in 2020.

To many observers, Kudlow should have been tapped for the directorship of the National Economic Council, overseeing the president's economic policy implementation.

Instead, this week the Trump transition team announced Gary Cohn, currently the president and COO of Goldman Sachs.

The move stunned conservatives, who noted that the Wall Street insider has been a lifelong Democrat and donor to President Obama.

Fox Business News senior correspondent Charles Gasparino was quick to tweet that the Cohn pick "should give economic conservatives pause re @realDonaldTrump – he’s looking to pick Gary Cohn of @GoldmanSachs over @larry_kudlow for NEC."

Gasparino added in another tweet: "Can someone explain how Gary Cohn of Goldman is going to 'drain the swamp'?"

I have never met Cohn, but I am sure he is smart and capable. He has decades of experience as a deal-maker on Wall Street.

But the NEC position is a policy one. Kudlow’s hands-on experience for almost four decades fighting the policy wars on a range of fiscal, tax and monetary issues made him a pre-eminent choice.

Add to his resume an incredible network of allies on Capitol Hill and, after years at CNBC, instant credibility with the financial media, I couldn't think of anyone who would have been more suited to craft and sell the president's economic policies.

Few positions are left to fill that could be suited for someone of Kudlow’s caliber. One is chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. The other is Director of OMB.

Conservatives are hopeful Trump will make sure Kudlow is with him in Washington.

We all want our new President to succeed. Having Kudlow there ensures it.