White House denies report that Hassett will leave economic council

This article is analysis. It separates what has been reported, what has been denied and what is our own assessment.

The White House on Friday 13 November 2026 denied a Semafor report that Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council (NEC), will leave the Trump administration in the coming weeks, according to Reuters. Semafor's report, based on three people familiar with the plans, named Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a possible successor who could hold both jobs.

The question is open. The denial is on the record, while the departure report rests on unnamed sources. It matters outside Washington because the NEC director is the president's in-house economic adviser. If Bessent ran both the NEC and the Treasury, one official would sit at the centre of US economic policy at a time when Democrats are about to control Congress.

What Semafor reported

According to Reuters' account of the Semafor story, Hassett had been inquiring about roles outside the administration since before the 3 November midterm elections. Semafor said his departure was not tied to the results, in which Democrats retook both chambers of Congress.

Semafor named Bessent and his counselor, David Zervos, among the people being considered to replace Hassett, Reuters reported. Semafor also said Hassett's plans could change.

In its first version of the story, published on Yahoo at 7:40pm UTC, Reuters said the White House and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NewsWLD has not been able to review Semafor's own text or confirm whether it has since updated the story.

What the White House said

Reuters later published a version headlined "White House denies Hassett departing Trump administration". It said the White House denied on Friday that Hassett was leaving in the coming weeks.

Headlines from CNBC and Bloomberg indicate that Hassett also denied the report personally and said he would remain in the role. NewsWLD has not reviewed the full text of those reports, so we cannot confirm his exact words or how each outlet obtained them.

Hassett's record in the administration

Hassett chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisers in Trump's first term and left that post in 2019, according to Reuters. He later returned as a senior adviser during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuters said he was considered last year to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve, but the job went to Kevin Warsh.

The report arrives during a run of senior changes. Reuters said Trump replaced his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, with longtime aide Stephen Miller the previous week. A GV Wire headline dated 6 November reported Miller's promotion.

A dual Bessent role was discussed in 2025

The idea of Bessent leading the NEC alongside the Treasury did not originate with Semafor. Bloomberg reported in December 2025 that it was under discussion. NewsWLD has not been able to review the full text of that report, so we do not repeat its details here.

Analysis: what one official in both jobs could mean

The following is our assessment, not reported fact. NewsWLD has not verified the current state of US tariff policy, Fed policy under Warsh or the federal budget calendar, and no source shows Bessent has been offered or would accept a dual role.

Trade. Combining the two posts would put Treasury leadership and White House economic coordination in the hands of one person. That could mean fewer competing voices on trade inside the administration, which trading partners might find easier to read. It would also remove one internal check on policy.

The Fed. A change at the NEC would change who in the White House deals most often with Warsh's Fed. Whether that leads to more or less public pressure on the central bank cannot be judged from the evidence available.

Congress. With Democrats taking control of both chambers, budget and tax measures will need cross-party agreement in the new Congress. A single official covering Treasury and White House coordination could simplify the administration's side of those talks, but would carry a heavier workload.

Abroad. The Treasury secretary already represents the US with foreign finance ministries. A dual role would make the same person the main voice of US economic policy at home and abroad, which matters for economies exposed to US trade decisions.

How a 'fired' headline compares with the reporting

The Daily Beast published a story, syndicated on Yahoo News at 8:07pm UTC on 13 November, headlined "Trump Finally Fires a Man After MAGA Torn Apart in Blue Tsunami". Its only cited source is Semafor, and its own text says Hassett "is expected to be the next to leave the White House". It gives no source for a firing.

Semafor, as relayed by Reuters, described an expected exit that was not tied to the election and might not happen. The Daily Beast version we reviewed did not mention any denial. Our assessment is that the headline overstates the reporting: no source we reviewed says Hassett was fired, and the White House has denied he is leaving.

The Daily Beast also listed several officials it said had left the administration this year. Reuters separately confirms that Wiles was replaced by Miller. NewsWLD has not checked the other names on the list.

What to watch

The signals to watch are any update or clarification from Semafor, any comment from Bessent or Zervos, and whether Hassett continues his public duties over the coming weeks. NewsWLD did not find any reporting on market reaction to the Semafor story in the sources reviewed.