President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE announced Sunday that Kevin Hassett, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), would be departing the administration.

"Kevin Hassett, who has done such a great job for me and the Administration, will be leaving shortly," the president tweeted while flying to Europe for a series of state visits.

"His very talented replacement will be named as soon as I get back to the U.S. I want to thank Kevin for all he has done - he is a true friend!"

Kevin Hassett, who has done such a great job for me and the Administration, will be leaving shortly. His very talented replacement will be named as soon as I get back to the U.S. I want to thank Kevin for all he has done - he is a true friend! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019

Hassett, the longtime conservative economist, has been CEA head since September 2017.

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He helped shape the 2017 Republican tax law and was a staunch defender of the president’s policies on a number of other issues.

Hassett was a longtime advocate of open trade policies, but in recent months he has been put in the position of defending Trump’s confrontational trade strategy.