All articles tagged with #howard lutnick
Karoline Leavitt’s exit from the Trump White House prompts speculation about who might depart next, with Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Susie Wiles, Howard Lutnick and James Braid floated as potential successors amid expected administration turnover.
U.S. officials and lawmakers say the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is gridlocked by leadership decisions, slow rulemaking, and license backlogs, risking weaker controls on advanced chips going to China; critics allege BIS chief Jeffrey Kessler’s micromanagement and the Commerce secretary’s stance have paralyzed enforcement, while the White House defends leadership and cites a shift away from rubber-stamping licenses even as some rules lag and an eight-month gap in updating the Entity List draws bipartisan scrutiny.
Critics mocked Howard Lutnick after he posted a photo of a so‑called ‘Trump Card’ on X—a purported, pricey fast‑track residency pass for wealthy foreign nationals—sparking memes about a laminated library card and bringing up past Trump/FIFA debates and Lutnick’s Epstein ties as online commentators weighed in.
A new Regime Change excerpt from Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan portrays a volatile White House, detailing Donald Trump’s furious outburst at Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (calling him a “pussy” and saying he’d become soft), with Lutnick allegedly firing back about tariffs, illustrating a tense cabinet dynamic. The book also covers related revelations (including Lutnick’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Trump’s grandiose Oval Office decor and power claims) based on extensive interviews; the White House did not provide comment.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s island several years after saying he cut ties, calling the visit “inexplicable.” Democrats labeled him evasive and signaled they may seek more questioning, potentially in public or sworn form, while the interview was transcribed rather than videotaped. No wrongdoing is alleged, but the exchange raises credibility questions as lawmakers press for full disclosure in the Epstein probe.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will testify behind closed doors before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, in a session tied to a broader Epstein investigation after the DOJ released files showing Lutnick maintained contact post-2008. Lutnick previously said he cut ties in 2005, but records also show Epstein-related scheduling and a 2012 island visit. The hearing aims to address lawmakers’ questions; a transcript will be released later. Lutnick has not been accused of wrongdoing, though some Republicans have pressed for accountability and even resignation, while the White House has voiced support for him.”
Only one approval has been granted under the Trump-era Gold Card program, which requires a $1 million gift to the Commerce Department plus a $15,000 processing fee for expedited permanent residency. DHS says approvals are limited and hundreds remain in the queue, a sharp contrast to earlier claims of broad sales, with Bloomberg noting a recipient (Jeffrey Chao) and multiple lawsuits challenging the program.
After Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation, Trump’s cabinet purge intensifies, with bettors on Polymarket placing bets on who’ll be the next ousted. Chavez-DeRemer is the third female cabinet member to leave within weeks, following Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi. The frontrunners to depart next are Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, each around 37% odds, amid controversy over Lutnick’s Epstein ties and Hegseth’s Iran-war stance and past allegations. Rubio is viewed as the safest bet. The piece highlights ongoing jockeying and public scrutiny surrounding the shake-up.
House Oversight Chair James Comer says a subpoena for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation is “very possible” as Hillary Clinton’s deposition proceeds; newly released DOJ materials show Lutnick and Epstein continued ties after 2005, including a 2012 lunch on Epstein’s private island, though Lutnick is not accused of crimes. The panel is also pressing Clinton’s testimony and broader disclosures in the Epstein matter, with Democrats stressing the inquiry should remain focused on facts rather than partisan theater.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed having lunch with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s conviction, saying he barely interacted with him; DOJ file releases have intensified scrutiny, with senators pressing Lutnick at a Senate appropriations hearing about transparency and the extent of his ties to Epstein.
Rep. Thomas Massie urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign after newly released Epstein files showed Lutnick discussed visiting Epstein’s island in 2012 and even invited Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraising event; Lutnick says interactions were limited, but lawmakers are calling for accountability as the Epstein files surface.
At a Davos World Economic Forum dinner, Howard Lutnick was loudly booed and several attendees walked out after he praised Donald Trump as the continent’s “new sheriff in town,” with Al Gore among the hecklers; French President Emmanuel Macron publicly pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric, signaling ongoing US‑EU tensions during Davos while protests also simmered around the event.
Howard Lutnick’s combative remarks at a Davos World Economic Forum dinner hosted by BlackRock’s Larry Fink provoked uproar, with jeers and walkouts as Fink urged calm. Lutnick had earlier urged confronting the status quo in an FT op-ed, arguing that under Trump capitalism has a new sheriff, against a backdrop of strained US-EU relations and tensions over Greenland tariffs.
Howard Lutnick, former neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein, called Epstein the 'greatest blackmailer ever' in a recent interview, contrasting with official DOJ and FBI findings that lack credible evidence of Epstein blackmailing prominent individuals or trafficking minors. Lutnick recounted his personal experience with Epstein and speculated about possible trades behind Epstein's 2008 plea deal, raising questions about the extent of Epstein's activities and the potential for further investigation.
Howard Lutnick criticized Elon Musk's approach to cutting federal workers at DOGE, comparing it unfavorably to more measured government efficiency strategies, and expressed disapproval of Musk's rapid staff reductions, which he believes were misguided.