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WASHINGTON — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has become the focus of exasperation inside the Trump administration ahead of the president’s “Liberation Day” implementation of reciprocal tariffs — with one saying the sentiment is so prevalent, it is “like being a mosquito at a nudist colony — where do you even start?”
Lutnick, the hard-charging former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and ex-co-chair of Trump’s transition team, has rubbed colleagues the wrong way on matters of both substance and style — with critics venting about his recent proclamation that a tariff-induced recession would be “worth it,” his call for the public to buy Tesla stock and his practice of inserting himself into policy discussions.
“He just isn’t deliberate enough with his words. Like, he can’t just be promoting certain stocks or saying even if there’s a recession it’ll be ‘worth it,’” one source close to the White House told The Post Tuesday.
“He is a loose cannon with half-baked ideas that he just randomly spews on live television,” this person added, saying the administration wants Lutnick to “think before he speaks.”
“TV interviews aren’t just a forum to test-run your latest thought bubble.”
Another source familiar with the situation said it was “100%” accurate that annoyance with Lutnick is growing, reiterating concern about him talking too loosely in public as well as inserting himself into the administration action.
Lutnick is frequently spotted with Trump as the president prepares for the Wednesday announcement of reciprocal tariffs — with the date coinciding with the adoption of Trump’s 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico as well as on worldwide auto imports.
The airing of grievances with Lutnick is a rare glimpse of internal divisions within Trump’s second-term team, which has largely kept any infighting under wraps after a chaotic cascade of palace intrigue during Trump’s first term.
Trump said Monday that his reciprocal tariffs may be less dramatic than feared, potentially blunting the impact on the stock market and forestalling further finger-pointing.
Despite the whispers about Lutnick, the White House defended his track record.
“Secretary Lutnick’s long and immensely successful private sector career makes him an integral addition to the Trump administration’s trade and economic team,” spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.
“Every member of the Trump administration is playing from the same playbook — President Trump’s playbook — to enact an America First agenda of tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation, and the unleashing of American energy.”
Desai also addressed Lutnick calling for the public to buy Tesla stock during a March 19 appearance on Fox News.
“While deranged Democrats like Tim Walz are openly calling for the ruin of an iconic American company that employs tens of thousands of everyday Americans, the Trump administration is committed to unleashing prosperity for all of our companies, industries, and workers,” he said.
“With his immensely successful private sector career, Secretary Lutnick is playing a critical role on President Trump’s trade and economic team to enact an America First economic agenda to restore American Greatness.”
Lutnick did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
