Trump Makes Another Bombshell Hire
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as his pick for Secretary of Commerce. Known for his strong support of tariffs and his interest in cryptocurrency, Lutnick is seen as a bold choice for a position that will play a central role in implementing Trump’s economic agenda, including the president’s plans to raise and enforce tariffs to protect American workers and industries.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, highlighting Lutnick’s role as co-chair of his transition team, alongside Linda McMahon, the former WWE executive and Trump ally who led the Small Business Administration. Together, Lutnick and McMahon are tasked with selecting candidates for key positions within the new administration.
As Secretary of Commerce, Lutnick would oversee a broad array of responsibilities, including the funding of emerging technologies like semiconductor factories, monitoring trade and weather data, and administering vital economic statistics. Crucially, the position requires strong ties to CEOs and other influential figures in the business world—something Lutnick brings in abundance.
Lutnick has long been an advocate for aggressive tariff policies. In an interview with CNBC earlier this year, he emphasized that tariffs are “an amazing tool” for the president to use, especially in protecting American jobs and industries. He echoed Trump’s tough stance on China, which included a proposal for a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, as well as the possibility of imposing tariffs on other imports. While some economists argue that tariffs are inefficient, Trump and Lutnick believe they are essential to securing fair trade and rebuilding American manufacturing.
Before being nominated for Commerce Secretary, Lutnick was considered for the role of Treasury Secretary, a position that has been highly contested within Trump’s team. Some, including billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, have advocated for Lutnick, arguing that he is the right choice to bring real change, as opposed to more traditional picks like Scott Bessent, who Musk criticized as “business-as-usual.”
