Gary Cohn

{{Short description|American businessman & politician (born 1960)}}

{{about|the former COO of Goldman Sachs and director of the National Economic Council|other people|Gary Cohn (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Gary Cohn

| image = Gary Cohn at Regional Media Day (cropped).png

| office = 11th Director of the National Economic Council

| president = Donald Trump

| term_start = January 20, 2017

| term_end = April 2, 2018

| predecessor = Jeff Zients

| successor = Larry Kudlow

| birth_name = Gary David Cohn

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|8|27}}

| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic{{cite web |title=The Honorable Gary D. Cohn Discusses the Administration's Goals for Tax Reform and the Newly Released Tax Reform Bill |url=https://www.economicclub.org/sites/default/files/transcripts/Gary_D_Cohn_Edited_Transcript.pdf |date=November 2, 2017 |publisher=The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. |access-date=February 14, 2022 |page=18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214190239/https://www.economicclub.org/sites/default/files/transcripts/Gary_D_Cohn_Edited_Transcript.pdf |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |url-status=live}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Lisa Pevaroff|1986}}

| children = 3

| education = American University (BS)

| website = {{URL|https://garydcohn.com}}

}}

Gary David Cohn (born August 27, 1960) is an American businessman and philanthropist who served as the 11th director of the National Economic Council and chief economic advisor to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/inside-trump-world-2199757045.html|title=Inside Trump World|first1=Jim|last1=VandeHei|first2=Mike|last2=Allen|website=Axios|date=January 29, 2017|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126120310/https://www.axios.com/inside-trump-world-2199757045.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first1=Renae|last1=Merle|first2=Ylan Q.|last2=Mu1|first3=Philip|last3=Rucker|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/09/trump-to-name-goldman-sachs-veteran-gary-cohn-to-head-national-economic-council/|title=Trump to name Goldman Sachs veteran, Gary Cohn, to head National Economic Council|date=December 9, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 9, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028050530/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/09/trump-to-name-goldman-sachs-veteran-gary-cohn-to-head-national-economic-council/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows/gary-cohn|title=Gary Cohn|publisher=Harvard Institute of Politics|access-date=2019-04-10|archive-date=2021-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106212655/https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows/gary-cohn|url-status=live}} He managed the administration's economic policy agenda. Before serving in the White House, Cohn was president and COO of Goldman Sachs, where he worked for more than 25 years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harrywalker.com/speakers/gary-cohn|title=Gary Cohn {{!}} The Harry Walker Agency|website=Harry Walker Agency|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24|archive-date=2019-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224034525/https://www.harrywalker.com/speakers/gary-cohn|url-status=live}} Cohn was appointed vice-chairman of IBM on January 5, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.ibm.com/2021-01-05-IBM-Appoints-Gary-D-Cohn-As-Vice-Chairman|title=IBM Appoints Gary D. Cohn as Vice Chairman|access-date=2021-01-05|archive-date=2021-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020164830/https://newsroom.ibm.com/2021-01-05-IBM-Appoints-Gary-D-Cohn-As-Vice-Chairman|url-status=live}}

Following his White House service, Cohn became an advisor and venture capital investor for companies operating in the cybersecurity, blockchain infrastructure, and medical technology sectors. He is on the Board of Advisors for Hoyos Integrity, a startup company employing biometric blockchain technology for secure communications and digital payments, and vice chairman of IBM.{{Cite news|last=Grossman|first=Matt|date=2021-01-05|title=Gary Cohn, Former Trump Adviser, Joins IBM|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gary-cohn-former-trump-adviser-joins-ibm-11609859554|access-date=2021-01-05|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=2021-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223105604/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gary-cohn-former-trump-adviser-joins-ibm-11609859554|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/19/gary-cohn-is-partnering-with-a-biometrics-company-to-build-a-secure-smartphone.html|title=Gary Cohn is investing with a biometrics company to build a secure smartphone|last=Mody|first=Seema|date=2019-11-19|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24|archive-date=2021-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030040346/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/19/gary-cohn-is-partnering-with-a-biometrics-company-to-build-a-secure-smartphone.html|url-status=live}} Cohn is also the chairman of the advisory board at Pallas Advisors, a national security strategic advisory firm based in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pallasadvisors.com/our-team|title=Pallas Advisors Team|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22|archive-date=2021-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011081212/https://www.pallasadvisors.com/our-team|url-status=live}}

Early life and education

Gary Cohn was born to an Eastern European Jewish family,{{cite news|url=http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/03/12/watch-goldman-sachs-ceo-gary-cohn-says-mark-cuban-is-wrong-on-bursting-tech-bubble-but-is-he/|work=Jewish Business News|title=Watch: Goldman Sachs CEO Gary Cohn Says Mark Cuban Is Wrong On Bursting Tech Bubble, But Is He?|date=March 12, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303002000/https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/03/12/watch-goldman-sachs-ceo-gary-cohn-says-mark-cuban-is-wrong-on-bursting-tech-bubble-but-is-he/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2009/09/15/hillel-at-kent-state-dedicates-new-cohn-jewish-student-center|access-date=March 4, 2016|date=September 15, 2009|title=Hillel at Kent State Dedicates New Cohn Jewish Student Center|website=Hillel International|archive-date=May 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516225820/https://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2009/09/15/hillel-at-kent-state-dedicates-new-cohn-jewish-student-center|url-status=dead}} the son of Victor and Ellen Cohn,{{cite web|last1=Hillel News|title=Goldman Sachs Pres. Cohn Addresses Capital Friends of Hillel|url=http://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2010/11/15/goldman-sachs-pres-cohn-addresses-capital-friends-of-hillel|website=Hillel International|access-date=December 1, 2015|date=November 15, 2010|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810023150/https://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2010/11/15/goldman-sachs-pres-cohn-addresses-capital-friends-of-hillel|url-status=dead}} and was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His father was an electrician who later became a real estate developer.{{cite news|title=Why Gary Cohn May Not Be Goldman's Next CEO|date=July 28, 2011 | url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/why-gary-cohn-may-not-be-goldmans-next-ceo-07282011.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912085202/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/why-gary-cohn-may-not-be-goldmans-next-ceo-07282011.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 12, 2011|work=Bloomberg|first1=Max|last1=Abelson |first2=Christina |last2=Harper |access-date=July 16, 2012}} Cohn was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, and attended four schools by the time he reached sixth grade.{{cite news|last1=La Roche|first1=Julia|title=Goldman Sachs' 2nd-most-powerful executive pulled an audacious move to get his 1st job on Wall Street|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-goldman-gary-cohn-got-to-wall-street-2015-5|work=Business Insider|date=June 1, 2015|access-date=December 10, 2016|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106214124/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-goldman-gary-cohn-got-to-wall-street-2015-5|url-status=live}} His childhood experiences with dyslexia were a featured case study in David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell.{{cite web|first=Ashley|last=Lutz|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-cohn-success-story-2017-8|access-date=December 24, 2019|date=August 18, 2017|title=Gary Cohn's teacher once told his parents he'd be lucky to be a truck driver – and now the Trump adviser and Goldman boss is worth $266 million|website=Business Insider|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130232442/https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-cohn-success-story-2017-8|url-status=live}} Cohn studied at Gilmour Academy for high school and graduated in 1979.{{Cite web |first=Sara |last=Dorn |date=May 20, 2015|title=Goldman Sachs COO Gary Cohn donates $750,000 for scholarship to alma mater Gilmour Academy |url=https://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/2015/05/goldman_sachs_ceo_gary_cohn_do.html |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=cleveland.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913145136/https://www.cleveland.com/hillcrest/2015/05/goldman_sachs_ceo_gary_cohn_do.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2017 |title=G Cohn '79 and R Lighthizer '65 |url=https://www.gilmour.org/news-detail?pk=905522 |access-date=September 13, 2024 |publisher=Gilmour Academy |language=en |archive-date=August 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808222148/https://www.gilmour.org/news-detail?pk=905522 |url-status=live }}

Cohn received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in business administration from American University in 1982.{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2020 |title=Renowned Alumnus Gary Cohn Drives Impact with Investments in AU |url=https://www.american.edu/giving/news/renowned-alumnus-drives-impact-with-investments-in-au.cfm |access-date=September 13, 2024 |publisher=American University |language=en |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118200208/https://www.american.edu/giving/news/renowned-alumnus-drives-impact-with-investments-in-au.cfm |url-status=live }}

Career

File:Gary D. Cohn - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2010.jpg Annual Meeting in 2010]]

Cohn started his career at the U.S. Steel home products division in Cleveland, Ohio.{{cite web | url=http://www.american.edu/media/20090510_Kogod_School_of_Business_Speaker.cfm | title=Gary Cohn, Kogod School of Business Commencement Speaker | publisher=American University | access-date=2012-07-16 | archive-date=2021-11-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106214240/https://www.american.edu/media/20090510_kogod_school_of_business_speaker.cfm | url-status=live }} After a few months, he left U.S. Steel and became an options dealer in the New York Mercantile Exchange. He taught himself the basics of options by reading about it in the days between meeting the hiring manager and joining the New York Mercantile Exchange.David and Goliath

Cohn was hired by Goldman Sachs in 1990 and became a partner at the firm in 1994.{{cite news |title=Succeeding Blankfein at Goldman May Be Hurdle Too High for Cohn |date=July 24, 2011 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-24/succeeding-blankfein-at-goldman-may-prove-hurdle-too-high-for-no-2-cohn.html |work=Bloomberg |first1=Max |last1=Abelson |first2=Christine |last2=Harper |access-date=August 7, 2011 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211102255/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-24/succeeding-blankfein-at-goldman-may-prove-hurdle-too-high-for-no-2-cohn.html |url-status=live }} In 1996, he was named head of the commodities department, and in 2002, he was named the head of the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities (FICC) division. In 2003, he was named co-head of Equities, and in January 2004, Cohn was named the co-head of global securities businesses.{{cite news | title=Gary Cohn | url=http://topics.wsj.com/person/C/gary-d-cohn/656 | work=Wall Street Journal | access-date=March 24, 2015 | archive-date=April 26, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426065034/http://topics.wsj.com/person/C/gary-d-cohn/656 | url-status=live }} He became president and Co-Chief Operating Officer, and director in June 2006.{{cite web|title=Gary D. Cohn|url=http://www.goldmansachs.com/who-we-are/leadership/executive-officers/02-gary-d-cohn.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622204300/http://www.goldmansachs.com/who-we-are/leadership/executive-officers/02-gary-d-cohn.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 22, 2012|date=June 22, 2012 |website= GoldmanSachs.com}} While at Goldman Sachs, Cohn was also a member of the firm's board of directors and Chairman of the Firmwide Client and Business Standards Committee.

In 2010, Cohn testified to Congress on Goldman Sachs' role in the 2008 financial crisis.{{cite news | title=Goldman's Cohn Is Next on Hot Seat | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703374104575337180461840038 | first=Susanne |last=Craig | work=Wall Street Journal | date=June 30, 2010 | access-date=March 7, 2017 | archive-date=June 18, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618003026/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703374104575337180461840038 | url-status=live }} He testified: "During the two years of the financial crisis, Goldman Sachs lost $1.2 billion in its residential mortgage-related business. We did not 'bet against our clients', and the numbers underscore this fact."{{cite news | title=Gary Cohn Testimony: Goldman Didn't Bet Against Clients | url=https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/06/30/gary-cohn-testimony-goldman-didnt-bet-against-clients/ | first=Michael | last=Corkery | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=June 30, 2010 | access-date=August 4, 2017 | archive-date=August 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808042003/https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/06/30/gary-cohn-testimony-goldman-didnt-bet-against-clients/ | url-status=live }}

On January 5, 2021, Cohn was appointed Vice Chairman of IBM's board of directors.{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Jeff|date=2021-01-05|title=Gary Cohn joins IBM as vice chairman|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/05/gary-cohn-joins-ibm-as-vice-chairman.html|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129023234/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/05/gary-cohn-joins-ibm-as-vice-chairman.html|url-status=live}}

National Economic Council Director

On January 20, 2017, Cohn took office as Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) in President Donald Trump's administration, a position that did not require Congressional confirmation. By February 11, 2017, The Wall Street Journal described Cohn as an "economic-policy powerhouse",{{cite news|title=Gary Cohn Has Emerged as an Economic-Policy Powerhouse in Trump Administration|date=February 11, 2017|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gary-cohn-has-emerged-as-an-economic-policy-powerhouse-in-trump-administration-1486843544|first1=Damian|last1=Paletta|first2=Mike|last2=Bender|first3=Nick|last3=Timiraos|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805112138/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gary-cohn-has-emerged-as-an-economic-policy-powerhouse-in-trump-administration-1486843544|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Gary Cohn Is Leaving Goldman Sachs to Chair Donald Trump's National Economic Council|date=December 12, 2016|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2016/12/12/gary-cohn-is-leaving-goldman-sachs-to-chair-donald-trumps-national-economic-council|access-date=February 12, 2017|work=Forbes|archive-date=February 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213165907/http://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2016/12/12/gary-cohn-is-leaving-goldman-sachs-to-chair-donald-trumps-national-economic-council/|url-status=live}} and The New York Times called him Trump's "go-to figure on matters related to jobs, business, and growth".{{cite news|title=Trump's Economic Cabinet Is Mostly Bare. This Man Fills the Void|date=February 11, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/11/business/dealbook/trump-economic-cabinet-gary-cohn.html|quote=With crucial posts still vacant, Gary Cohn, a long-time Goldman Sachs executive, has become the president's go-to figure on matters related to jobs, business, and growth.|author=Kelly, Kate|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-date=March 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317225050/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/11/business/dealbook/trump-economic-cabinet-gary-cohn.html|url-status=live}} With the confirmation of Trump's nominee for Secretary of Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, pending in the Senate, Cohn filled in the "personnel vacuum" and pushed "ahead on taxes, infrastructure, financial regulation, and replacing health-care law". In addition to his $285 million Goldman Sachs severance package,{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/26/investing/gary-cohn-goldman-sachs-exit-trump/|title=Trump adviser Gary Cohn's $285 million Goldman Sachs exit raises eyebrows|last=Egan|first=Matt|date=January 27, 2017|website=CNN Money|access-date=January 27, 2017|archive-date=June 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626191657/http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/26/investing/gary-cohn-goldman-sachs-exit-trump|url-status=live}} Cohn also sold a stake in the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world's largest bank ({{as of|2017|lc=y}}), then valued at $16 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/business/dealbook/trump-adviser-gary-cohn-chinese-bank.html|title=Trump Adviser Gary Cohn to Sell Stake in Chinese Bank Giant|date=March 16, 2017|work=The New York Times|first1=Kate|last1=Kelly|first2=Steve|last2=Eder|access-date=March 25, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170141/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/business/dealbook/trump-adviser-gary-cohn-chinese-bank.html|url-status=live}}

File:Pence, Cohn, and Mnuchin watch tax reform vote.jpg

Cohn supports reinstating the Glass-Steagall legislation, which would separate commercial and investment banking.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-06/cohn-said-to-back-wall-street-split-of-lending-investment-banks|work=Bloomberg|title=Cohn said to back Wall Street split of lending and investment bank|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=April 6, 2017|archive-date=March 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328153638/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-06/cohn-said-to-back-wall-street-split-of-lending-investment-banks|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21721504-time-loosen-reins-say-americas-banks-not-so-fast-say-regulators-american-banks|title=American banks think they are over-regulated|date=May 4, 2017|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126223835/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21721504-time-loosen-reins-say-americas-banks-not-so-fast-say-regulators-american-banks|url-status=live}}

Under the Trump administration, Cohn was cited by the press as a supporter of globalism, and was given nicknames such as "Globalist Gary" and "Carbon Tax Cohn".{{cite web|url=http://forward.com/news/368913/how-gary-cohn-became-the-hated-jewish-globalist-in-trumps-cabinet/|title=How Gary Cohn Became The Hated Jewish 'Globalist' In Trump's Cabinet|last=Nathan-Kazis|first=Josh|date=April 17, 2017|website=Forward|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211012512/http://forward.com/news/368913/how-gary-cohn-became-the-hated-jewish-globalist-in-trumps-cabinet/|url-status=live}} He, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Dina Powell were referred to by opponents as the "Wall Street wing" of the Trump administration. He was said to be at odds with the populist faction led by Steve Bannon, when Bannon was White House Chief Strategist.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/12/the-white-houses-amazingly-petty-nicknames-ranked/|title=The derogatory internal nicknames of the Trump White House, ranked|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=April 17, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225112318/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/12/the-white-houses-amazingly-petty-nicknames-ranked/|url-status=live}} He was also rivals with trade advisor Peter Navarro, who favored tariffs and was hawkish towards China; Navarro later described Cohn as "one of the worst and most treacherous misfits of the entire Trump administration".{{Cite news |last=Kranish |first=Michael |last2=Stein |first2=Jeff |last3=Svitek |first3=Patrick |last4=Tucker |first4=Brianna |last5=Vazquez |first5=Maegan |last6=Morse |first6=Clara Ence |last7=Zakrzewski |first7=Cat |last8=Schaffer |first8=Aaron |last9=Melgar |first9=Luis |date=2025-04-26 |title=How Peter Navarro went from Democrat to inmate to Trump’s tariff guru |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/26/peter-navarro-tariffs-trump-china/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

Cohn led the Trump administration's efforts to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In a 2019 article in The Wall Street Journal, Cohn pointed to an increase of $6,000 in real disposable personal income per household, as well as the creation of seven million jobs, as evidence of the success of tax reform.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-has-delivered-for-workers-11577045463|title=Tax Reform Has Delivered for Workers|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 22, 2017|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125100830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tax-reform-has-delivered-for-workers-11577045463|url-status=live}}

Cohn reportedly considered resigning from the National Economic Council after the 2017 Charlottesville rally{{cite news |title=Transcript: Gary Cohn on tax reform and Charlottesville |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cb068f94-8915-11e7-bf50-e1c239b45787 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221212001240/https://www.ft.com/content/cb068f94-8915-11e7-bf50-e1c239b45787 |archive-date=2022-12-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2020 |work=Financial Times }} and criticized the Trump administration's response to the rally, saying, "I believe this administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning" white supremacists.{{cite news|url=http://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/223630/trump-adviser-gary-cohn-reportedly-considered-quitting-following-charlottesville/|title=Trump adviser Gary Cohn reportedly considered quitting following Charlottesville|work=Jewish Journal|date=August 25, 2017|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=February 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224165725/https://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/223630/trump-adviser-gary-cohn-reportedly-considered-quitting-following-charlottesville/|url-status=live}} In August 2020, Jim Sciutto published The Madman Theory, a book in which Cohn said in response to Trump saying that there were "very fine people on both sides" of the protests which included white supremacists, "Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK."{{cite web |title=The Madman Theory |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-madman-theory-jim-sciutto?variant=32117494939682 |website=HarperCollins |location=New York City |access-date=11 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109110141/https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-madman-theory-jim-sciutto?variant=32117494939682 |url-status=live }}

By September 2017, the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy had been folded into the National Economic Council, which meant that Navarro would report to Cohn.{{Cite news |title=Kelly folds Navarro's trade shop into National Economic Council |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/27/peter-navarro-trade-office-national-economic-council-243217 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928005903/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/27/peter-navarro-trade-office-national-economic-council-243217 |archive-date=September 28, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2017 |work=Politico}}

On March 6, 2018, Cohn announced his intention to resign; the announcement followed Trump's proposal to impose import tariffs on steel and aluminum and Trump's cancellation of a meeting with end users of steel and aluminum that Cohn had arranged in an attempt to dissuade him from the tariffs.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/06/gary-cohn-plans-to-resign-as-trumps-top-economic-advisor-new-york-times.html|title=Gary Cohn resigns as Trump's top economic advisor|last1=Mangan|first1=Dan|last2=Pramuk|first2=Jacob|date=March 6, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=6 March 2018|archive-date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306224720/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/06/gary-cohn-plans-to-resign-as-trumps-top-economic-advisor-new-york-times.html|url-status=live}} He was replaced by Larry Kudlow on April 2.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/business/larry-kudlow-trump-national-economic-council.html |title=Trump Picks CNBC's Larry Kudlow as Top Economic Adviser |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |authorlink1=Maggie Haberman |date=March 14, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2018 |last2=Kelly |first2=Kate |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Tankersley |first3=Jim |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314235402/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/business/larry-kudlow-trump-national-economic-council.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/382001-kudlow-jokes-hes-gotta-beat-scaramuccis-white-house-tenure/ |title=Kudlow jokes he's 'gotta beat' Scaramucci's White House tenure |last=Fabian |first=Jordan |date=April 6, 2018 |work=The Hill |access-date=April 9, 2018 |language=en}} Cohn's departure solidified the influence of Navarro.{{Cite news |last1=Manson |first1=Katrina |last2=Donnan |first2=Shawn |last3=Fleming |first3=Sam |date=2018-03-07 |title=Gary Cohn's departure leaves economic nationalists in the ascendant |url=https://www.ft.com/content/717b277e-2216-11e8-9a70-08f715791301 |access-date=2025-01-09 |work=Financial Times}}

Bob Woodward's 2018 book Fear: Trump in the White House relates two instances when Cohn removed draft letters from Trump's desk so that Trump would not see them.{{cite book |last1=Woodward |first1=Bob |authorlink=Bob Woodward |title=Fear: Trump in the White House |date=2018 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York City |isbn=978-1-4711-8129-0 |page=158}} One of the letters would have canceled a key trade agreement with South Korea, and one would have withdrawn the U.S. unilaterally from the NAFTA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.{{cite news |title=Read the stolen letter from Trump's desk reported in Bob Woodward's book |author=Marshall Cohen and Jamie Gangel |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=September 5, 2018 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/06/politics/trump-woodward-book-trade/index.html |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301204748/https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/06/politics/trump-woodward-book-trade/index.html |url-status=live }}[https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-cohn-stole-documents-off-trump-desk-hr-mcmaster-confirms-woodward-book-2018-9 Insider, 26 September, 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114080233/https://www.businessinsider.com/gary-cohn-stole-documents-off-trump-desk-hr-mcmaster-confirms-woodward-book-2018-9 |date=2019-01-14 }} Trump's former national security adviser confirms Gary Cohn stole documents off Trump's desk to keep the US from leaving major trade deals Trump's opinion of Cohn reportedly remained good after he resigned; Trump called him a "rare talent" who had done a "superb job". Cohn supported other candidates during the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, but after Trump won the 2024 United States presidential election, Cohn became a "Trump ambassador" to Wall Street for appointments and policy.{{Cite news |last1=Saeedy |first1=Alexander |last2=Andriotis |first2=AnnaMaria |last3=Thomas |first3=Lauren |last4=Gottfried |first4=Miriam |date=2024-11-08 |title=Wall Street Luminaries Jockey for Influence on Next Trump Administration |url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/wall-street-trump-finance-executives-jockey-for-influence-on-next-administration-c8177c98 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241108165818/https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/wall-street-trump-finance-executives-jockey-for-influence-on-next-administration-c8177c98 |archive-date=2024-11-08 |access-date=2024-11-09 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Venture capital

After leaving the White House, Cohn became an advisor and venture capital investor for companies in the cybersecurity, blockchain, and digital payments sectors. He is on the Board of Spring Labs, a startup using blockchain technology to share consumer credit data,{{Cite web|date=2018-10-12|title=Gary Cohn Has Joined a Blockchain Startup as an Adviser|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-12/gary-cohn-joins-blockchain-startup-spring-labs-as-adviser|access-date=2019-12-24|website=Bloomberg.com|archive-date=2019-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224034538/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-12/gary-cohn-joins-blockchain-startup-spring-labs-as-adviser|url-status=live}} and Sotera Digital Security, a company that has created a mobile phone for secure communications.{{Cite web |title=About us – Mobile Security |url=https://www.soteradigital.com/about-us-mobile-security/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=Sotera |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526022421/https://soteradigital.com/about-us-mobile-security/ |url-status=live }} Cohn is also a key advisor for Machine Zone{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190103005243/en/Gary-Cohn-Joins-MZ-Board-Directors|title=Gary Cohn Joins MZ Board of Directors|date=2019-01-03|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23|archive-date=2021-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301014655/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190103005243/en/Gary-Cohn-Joins-MZ-Board-Directors|url-status=live}}{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2020}} and Abryx, a biomaterial science company.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/12/gary-cohn-triesand-failsto-defend-the-trump-tax-cut|title=Gary Cohn Tries – And Fails – To Defend the Trump tax cut|last=Cohan|first=William D.|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=13 December 2019|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23|archive-date=2021-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123172808/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/12/gary-cohn-triesand-failsto-defend-the-trump-tax-cut|url-status=live}} At Sotera Digital, he is involved in the strategy and rollout of a next-generation secure mobile phone aimed at government and corporate customers.

In April 2020, Cohn was appointed to the Risk & Governance Advisory Board of Starling, a technology company in applied behavior sciences.{{cite web |title=Gary D. Cohn Joins Starling's Risk & Governance Advisory Board |url=http://starlingtrust.com/gary-d-cohn-joins-starlings-risk-governance-advisory-board/ |website=Starling Trust Sciences |access-date=11 December 2020 |date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119143505/https://starlingtrust.com/gary-d-cohn-joins-starlings-risk-governance-advisory-board/ |url-status=dead }}

In August 2020, Cohn and investor Clifton S. Robbins launched Cohn Robbins Holdings Corp.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-26|title=Ex-Trump adviser Gary Cohn seeks $600 million for blank-check company IPO|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/26/ex-trump-adviser-gary-cohn-seeks-600-million-for-blank-check-company-ipo.html|access-date=2020-08-26|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022190004/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/26/ex-trump-adviser-gary-cohn-seeks-600-million-for-blank-check-company-ipo.html|url-status=live}}

Harvard Kennedy School

In 2019, Cohn was a visiting fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/01/17/they-head-harvard-gary-cohn-and-heidi-heitkamp-criticize-shutdown/nDoJbmWksuJf9Q0j8LiTbI/story.html|title=As they head to Harvard, Gary Cohn and Heidi Heitkamp criticize shutdown – The Boston Globe|last=Reporter|first=Michael Levenson-|website=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2019-04-10|archive-date=2020-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125030500/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/01/17/they-head-harvard-gary-cohn-and-heidi-heitkamp-criticize-shutdown/nDoJbmWksuJf9Q0j8LiTbI/story.html|url-status=live}} where he taught a seminar alongside former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp on economic, demographic, and national security policy.{{Cite web|url=https://iop.harvard.edu/get-involved/study-groups-0/spring-2019-cohn-heitkamp|title=The Real State of the Union|website=The Institute of Politics at Harvard University|language=en|access-date=2019-04-10|archive-date=2021-11-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106212434/https://iop.harvard.edu/get-involved/study-groups-0/spring-2019-cohn-heitkamp|url-status=dead}} Cohn and Heitkamp focused on structural economic and demographic issues. Spring 2019 Fellows at the Institute included Mayor Andrew Gillum, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu.{{Cite web|url=https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows/spring-2019-resident-fellows|title=Spring 2019 Resident Fellows|website=The Institute of Politics at Harvard University|language=en|access-date=2019-04-10|archive-date=2019-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410043658/https://iop.harvard.edu/fellows/spring-2019-resident-fellows|url-status=dead}}

While at Harvard, Cohn was the lead sponsor for the Road to 2092: Save Social Security, the first policy hackathon organized by the Harvard Institute of Politics.{{Cite web|url=https://iop.harvard.edu/road-to-2092|title=Road to 2092: Save Social Security|website=The Institute of Politics at Harvard University|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24|archive-date=2021-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020101213/https://iop.harvard.edu/road-to-2092|url-status=dead}} The competition featured over 250 students from 28 universities; the winning team presented its policy brief at the U.S. Capitol and the White House and was featured on MSNBC.{{Cite web|url=https://iop.harvard.edu/road-to-2092|title=Kennedy School Students Named Winners of Social Security Policy Challenge|website=The Harvard Crimson|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24|archive-date=2021-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020101213/https://iop.harvard.edu/road-to-2092|url-status=dead}}

Personal life

Cohn is married to Lisa Pevaroff-Cohn.{{Cite web |date=2010-08-02 |title=SANFORD PEVAROFF |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/sanford-pevaroff/article_aaf86ab5-d7d5-5b3c-bab1-47bf89478bf7.html |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315094750/https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/sanford-pevaroff/article_aaf86ab5-d7d5-5b3c-bab1-47bf89478bf7.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2010-01-29 |title=Pevaroffs celebrate 60th wedding anniversary |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/pevaroffs-celebrate-60th-wedding-anniversary/article_b057deb0-181b-5fac-8815-92021fa698b4.html |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315094750/https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/pevaroffs-celebrate-60th-wedding-anniversary/article_b057deb0-181b-5fac-8815-92021fa698b4.html |url-status=live }} They have three daughters, and reside in New York City.

=Philanthropy=

Cohn and his wife are founding board members of the New York University Child Study Center. The couple funded the Pevaroff Cohn Professorship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999. He financed the Gary D. Cohn Endowed Goldman Sachs Chair in Finance{{Cite web |last=Herring {{!}} |first=Laura |date=2013-09-30 |title=New Professor is First Gary D. Cohn Goldman Sachs Chair in Finance |url=https://www.american.edu/kogod/news/20130930_ksbnews_harris_jeffrey.cfm |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=American University |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315094750/https://www.american.edu/kogod/news/20130930_ksbnews_harris_jeffrey.cfm |url-status=live }} and the Gary D. Cohn Scholarship{{cite web |title=Renowned Alumnus Gary Cohn Drives Impact with Investments in AU |url=https://www.american.edu/giving/news/renowned-alumnus-drives-impact-with-investments-in-au.cfm |website=American University |date=20 April 2020 |access-date=11 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118200208/https://www.american.edu/giving/news/renowned-alumnus-drives-impact-with-investments-in-au.cfm |url-status=live }} both at American University, his alma mater. In 2015 Cohn financed the Gary D. Cohn and Brother Robert LaVelle Endowed Scholarship in honor of Brother Robert LaVelle, who was retiring after 35 years as head of Gilmour Academy, where Cohn attended high school.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/gilmour-academy-received-750000-donation-for-scholarships/109954997 |title=Gilmour Academy received $750,000 donation for scholarships |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=2020-02-24 |archive-date=2021-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106215315/https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/gilmour-academy-received-750000-donation-for-scholarships/109954997 |url-status=live }}

In 2009, the Hillel International building at Kent State University was named the Cohn Jewish Student Center in recognition of a gift from Cohn and his wife.{{cite web|url=http://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2009/09/15/hillel-at-kent-state-dedicates-new-cohn-jewish-student-center|title=Hillel at Kent State Dedicates New Cohn Jewish Student Center|date=September 15, 2009|publisher=Hillel International|access-date=December 1, 2015|archive-date=May 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516225820/https://www.hillel.org/about/news-views/news-views---blog/news-and-views/2009/09/15/hillel-at-kent-state-dedicates-new-cohn-jewish-student-center|url-status=dead}} It is the first Hillel building built on a state university campus.{{Cite web |title=Dedication of the New Cohn Jewish Student Center |url=http://einside.kent.edu/Management%20Update%20Archive/news/video/hillel/index.html |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=einside.kent.edu |archive-date=2017-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123908/http://einside.kent.edu/Management%20Update%20Archive/news/video/hillel/index.html |url-status=live }}

Cohn has been a supporter of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, and has supported the nonprofit youth development organization Harlem RBI (now called DREAM) since 2011. At that time, Harlem RBI was given the chance to build its own charter school. Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees and Harlem RBI director Rich Berlin asked Cohn to help them raise the capital they needed to build the school.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/goldmans-cohn-honored-by-harlem-rbi-2013-6|title=What Goldman's COO Gary Cohn Is Doing About Our 'Unfair' World|last1=La Roche|first1=Julia|date=June 17, 2013|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=April 5, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224165727/https://www.businessinsider.com/goldmans-cohn-honored-by-harlem-rbi-2013-6|url-status=live}} On June 17, 2013, Cohn was honored at the annual "Bids for Kids" gala in order to raise funds for Harlem RBI. He said in an interview that Harlem RBI is a project "very near and dear to my heart". In 2015, Cohn won $360,000 for Harlem RBI as winner of Bloomberg's Brackets for a Cause competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-march-madness/|title=Bloomberg's Brackets for a Cause|newspaper=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg News|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225061856/http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-march-madness/|url-status=live}}

=Memberships=

Cohn is active in various charitable causes related to education and healthcare. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of NYU Langone Health and on the Board of Overseers of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.{{Cite web |title=Tandon Leadership Team {{!}} NYU Tandon School of Engineering |url=https://engineering.nyu.edu/about/tandon-leadership-team |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=engineering.nyu.edu |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324083856/https://engineering.nyu.edu/about/tandon-leadership-team |url-status=live }}

In 2010, the Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU Langone Medical Center named Cohn the chairman of the HJD Advisory Board.{{cite web|url=http://www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/about-us/announcements-and-news/current-news|title=2010 Hospital for Joint Diseases' Founders Gala Raises over $1.7 Million|date=November 10, 2010|publisher=NYU School of Medicine|access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-date=April 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403164958/http://www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/about-us/announcements-and-news/current-news|url-status=live}} Cohn has been a trustee of American University and Gilmour Academy.