MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle repeatedly mocked economist Larry Kudlow Thursday for referring to God’s will while discussing his decision to join the Trump administration.
Ruhle and co-host Ali Velshi were talking to CNBC’s John Harwood about economic policy, and they expressed disagreement with some of Kudlow’s economic views. Then Ruhle took a turn to talk about Kudlow’s Christian faith, which she considered "interesting" for an economist to discuss.
"If you noticed when Larry Kudlow spoke on CNBC yesterday, he ended by saying, ‘However things work out, it will be God's will,’" Ruhle said.
Velshi laughed in response.
"That’s an interesting way to talk about being the national economic adviser to the president," Ruhle added, frowning. "God's will?"
Later in the show, she questioned whether Kudlow could "represent real data" to President Donald Trump. She went on to mock his comment about God again.
"Well, as Larry Kudlow says, ‘It’s God’s will,’" she said with a smirk.
Trump on Wednesday tapped Kudlow, who worked in the Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan administration, to be the director of the National Economic Council. Following the announcement, the longtime presence at CNBC spoke emotionally about his time at the network. He said it was hard to leave but he had faith in God’s will.
"The last 25 years of my life has been tied up with CNBC, which changed my life, changed my profession, and it's been a family to me, and, however this thing works out, it will be God's will," he said. "If there's an opportunity when my service is complete, I hope very much to come back and help CNBC. It is my family, and it has changed my life."
He also credited CNBC for helping him improve his life after dealing with a substance abuse problem.
"CNBC also years back gave me a second chance after my crash and burn," he added. "It was Ron Insana and Bill Griffeth, and the next thing I knew, I was in the rotation, and the next thing I knew one night I was on air with Jimmy Kramer."
"I love this place," he added. "I'm honored to take this position—the hardest part about it is I won't be here three, four days a week anymore."
Kudlow has been public about how Christian faith turned his life around. He was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church in 1997.