You’ve probably seen the name pop up on CNBC or scrolled past it in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. Maybe you remember the guy who once predicted the stock market would hit some astronomical number back when everyone else was panicking. If you’re trying to figure out who is Kevin Hassett, you aren’t just looking for a resume. You’re looking for the guy who basically holds the keys to the engine room of the American economy right now.
He’s currently the Director of the National Economic Council (NEC), a role he stepped into in early 2025. It’s his second major tour of duty in the White House, and honestly, he’s one of those rare figures who manages to be a true-believer conservative while still being the guy other economists actually want to grab a beer with.
The Man Behind the Headlines
Kevin Hassett isn’t your typical stuffy bureaucrat. Born in 1962 in Greenfield, Massachusetts, he’s a track-and-field guy from Swarthmore who eventually got his PhD from Penn. He’s got that high-energy, fast-talking vibe of someone who’s spent way too much time looking at spreadsheets but still loves the game.
Before he was the face of Trump’s economic policy, he was a fixture at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). That’s where he really built his brand. He wasn't just writing dry papers; he was out there arguing that corporate tax cuts are the secret sauce for wage growth. People call him a "supply-sider," which is basically code for believing that if you make it easier for businesses to invest, everyone else eventually wins.
That "Dow 36,000" Thing
We have to talk about the book. You can't mention Kevin Hassett without someone bringing up Dow 36,000. He co-authored it in 1999, right before the dot-com bubble burst.
The premise? Stocks were wildly undervalued because people were too scared of the risk. He and James Glassman argued the Dow should hit 36,000 within a few years. It didn’t. In fact, it took over two decades to get there, finally crossing that mark in 2021. Critics have spent years using that book as a mallet to hit him with, calling it the "wrongest" investment advice ever.
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But here’s the thing: Hassett didn’t hide. He’s been pretty open about it, joking that he was just "a little early." It tells you a lot about his personality. He’s an optimist. Sometimes to a fault.
Why He’s So Polarizing
When Trump first tapped him to lead the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) in 2017, it was a bit of a surprise. Usually, that role goes to an academic who stays in the shadows. Hassett? He was everywhere. He became the administration's top "explainer," going on every news network to defend things like the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
He’s the guy who argued that cutting the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% would lead to a massive spike in household income. Did it? Depends on which economist you ask. Hassett has the data to say yes; his critics have the data to say no.
The 2025 Return and the Fed Drama
As of 2026, he’s arguably more powerful than ever. In his current role at the NEC, he’s the primary architect of the administration's trade and tax strategy. If you’re wondering why there's so much talk about "reciprocal tariffs" or renewed tax breaks, Hassett is usually the one in the Oval Office drawing the charts.
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Lately, the big rumor has been the Federal Reserve. For months, everyone thought Hassett was the frontrunner to replace Jerome Powell as Fed Chair. It’s been a wild ride. Trump has publicly praised him as a "brilliant" economist, but as of late 2025, there's been pushback. Some people in the administration think he’s better as a communicator than a central banker.
What Really Happened During COVID?
There’s a darker chapter people often forget when asking who is Kevin Hassett. In 2020, he was brought back to the White House as a "Senior Advisor" to help with the pandemic response.
He was famously criticized for a "cubic model" chart that suggested COVID-19 deaths would drop to zero by May 2020. It became a symbol for the administration’s perceived over-optimism. Hassett defended the work, saying it was just one of many data points, but it cemented his reputation as someone who will always look for the silver lining, even when the clouds are pitch black.
The Real Hassett: Beyond the Politics
- The Basketball Junkie: He’s known as a notorious "trash talker" on the court. He claims his shots always go in.
- The Academic Roots: He taught at Columbia and NYU. He’s not just a TV pundit; he actually knows how to run complex econometrics.
- The Policy Nomad: He’s advised almost every major Republican candidate in the last 20 years, from John McCain to Mitt Romney.
Actionable Insights: Why This Matters to You
If you’re watching the markets or worried about your taxes in 2026, you need to watch Hassett. He’s currently pushing for a "level playing field" on international taxes and is a huge proponent of using tariffs as leverage in trade deals.
- Watch the Tax Code: Hassett is the main driver behind making the 2017 tax cuts permanent. If he stays in power, expect a push for even lower corporate rates.
- Interest Rate Tension: He’s been a vocal critic of the Fed not cutting rates fast enough. His influence suggests the White House will keep the pressure on for "easy money" policies.
- Trade Volatility: He views tariffs as a "drug war" tool—using economic pressure to solve non-economic problems like the fentanyl crisis. This means trade policy will stay unpredictable.
Ultimately, Kevin Hassett is the bridge between traditional conservative economic theory and the "America First" populism of the current era. Whether you think he’s a brilliant visionary or a "rosy" salesman, he’s currently one of the most influential people on the planet when it comes to your wallet.
To stay ahead of how these policies might impact your personal finances or business planning, monitor the National Economic Council's quarterly reports and Hassett’s frequent appearances on Bloomberg or CNBC, as he often signals upcoming policy shifts weeks before they are formally announced.