President Trump expressed “confidence” in both Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn when asked by reporters on Thursday.
Mnuchin has been subject to yet another travel controversy this week after it was reported he requested a military jet for his honeymoon in Europe. Meanwhile, Cohn has expressed frustration the president’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, Va.
Asked if he thought what Mnuchin did was appropriate, Trump said “I doubt he would do it. I’ve known him a long time, he is a very straight shooter.”
“So it could be that he used a plane and he’s paying for it,” Trump added, according to a press pool report. “I don’t know anything about it, I really don’t. I just heard about it a little while ago.”
Mnuchin, who is already being investigated for a trip he and his wife took on the day of the total eclipse, said Thursday that he inquired about the military plane as a matter of national security.
Asked if he had confidence in Mnuchin and Cohn, he replied, “Total confidence.”
“I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a very honorable man,” Trump continued. It’s unclear which man he was referring to, but when pressed on Cohn again, Trump said, “I have confidence in Gary, too.”
Trump is reportedly irritated with Cohn and refuses to make contact with him.
