Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The president of the United States recently praised Hannibal Lecter for helping him win reelection, suggested he was “purposely” crashing the economy, and then abruptly paused most of his tariffs, which he described as both up for negotiation and “permanent.” So you might think making zany and contradictory public declarations isn’t the kind of thing that bothers members of Donald Trump’s second administration. But Howard Lutnick found a way.
Recent reporting on the Commerce secretary reads like a Politico cover of “Not Like Us.” Last month, the outlet reported that both White House officials and Trump’s outside allies have grown “increasingly frustrated” with Lutnick due to his attempts to ingratiate himself with the president, his tendency to give terrible policy advice, and his “abrasive personality.” One Politico source accused Lutnick of “trying to be a mini-Trump,” while another described him as “a new voice at the table pushing crazy shit,” adding, “I don’t know anyone that isn’t pissed off at him.”
Lutnick’s frequent, often embarrassing public statements are only making matters worse. The secretary has announced policies that Trump has yet to approve and made various jaw-dropping claims, like when he suggested Americans are eager to serve in “the army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones.” Lutnick’s media appearances “have proven so challenging to White House officials that he was asked to curb them” back in March, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Nevertheless, Lutnick was the most prominent cheerleader for Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs and he’s continued to be a font of darkly hilarious sycophancy in both his on-air appearances and his fawning social media posts. Here’s a running list of Lutnick’s most lunkheaded public statements.
Lutnick promises “no recession in America”
During a March 9 appearance on Meet the Press, Lutnick said we should “absolutely not” brace for an economic downturn as “there’s going to be no recession in America.”
He went on to promise that Trump would “grow our economy in a way we’ve never grown before,” adding, “if Donald Trump is bringing growth to America, I would never bet on recession, no chance.”
Howard Lutnick:
“There’s going to be no recession in America”
“Global tariffs are going to come down” pic.twitter.com/3jhuTNd0pa
— Aaron Bennett (@AaronDBennett) March 9, 2025
But Trump was way less confident, or at least less willing to make a potentially humiliating declaration on camera. That same day, the president declined to rule out a recession on Fox Sunday Morning Futures, saying “I hate to predict things like that.”
Lutnick admits there may be a recession — but it will be “worth it”
Days later, CBS News asked Lutnick if Trump’s tariffs are justified even if they spark a recession. “This policies are the most important thing America has ever had,” the secretary answered, passionately, adding, “It is worth it.”
Q: “Will these policies be worth it if they lead to a recession, even a short-term recession?”
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick: “These policies are the most important thing America has ever had.”
Q: “So it is worth it?”
Lutnick: “It is worth it.” pic.twitter.com/yC9ooJ07e5
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) March 12, 2025
Lutnick quickly added that he doesn’t think there will be a recession. And if there is, it won’t be caused by the current president but “the Biden nonsense that we had to live with.”
Then the Commerce secretary insisted that the tariffs — which Trump would later implement only to delay less than a week later — weren’t tumultuous at all. “It is not chaotic and the only one who thinks it’s chaotic is someone who’s being silly,” Lutnick said.
Lutnick announces no taxes for people earning under $150,000
In the same “recession is worth it” interview, Lutnick told CBS that Trump is looking to abolish taxes for a huge swath of Americans. “I know what his goal is: No tax for anybody who makes less than $150,000 a year. That’s his goal. That’s what I’m working for,” he said.
Big if true! Which, as it turns out, it wasn’t. He later clarified in a Fox News appearance, “that’s aspirational.”
MacCallum: You said on CBS that Trump wants no taxes on people making below $150,000
Lutnick: That’s taking it out of context… That’s aspirational that when we balance the budget… pic.twitter.com/idWnvKmA4J
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 13, 2025
Lutnick urges Fox viewers to buy Tesla stock
During a March 19 appearance on Fox News, Lutnick praised Elon Musk extensively and said viewers should buy stock in his car company.
“I think, if you want to learn something on this show tonight, buy Tesla,” Lutnick said. “It’s unbelievable that this guy’s stock is this cheap. It’ll never be this cheap again.”
On Jesse Watters’ show, Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who served as the chairman and CEO of a major financial services firm for 34 years, tells viewers they should buy Tesla stock.
“I think if you want to learn something on this show tonight, buy Tesla. It’s… pic.twitter.com/s9bzgkrEpN
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 20, 2025
Should a sitting Cabinet secretary not give stock tips on live TV? Is that sort of thing frowned upon?
Lutnick claims only “fraudsters” worry about missing Social Security checks
During a March 23 appearance on the All-In podcast, Lutnick claimed that most seniors wouldn’t complain if their Social Security check didn’t show up — and if they did, that’s a sign that they’re a “fraudster.”
“Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain,” Lutnick said. “She just wouldn’t. She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling, and complaining,”
Howard Lutnick: “Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month, my mother-in-law— who’s 94— she wouldn’t call and complain. She just wouldn’t.” @Ronxyz00
pic.twitter.com/POE7VTZdmk
— The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) March 21, 2025
Lutnick is right: that particular 94-year-old woman probably wouldn’t complain, as her son-in-law is a billionaire. But would the 40 percent of older Americans who rely solely on Social Security income say something about a missing check? Well, they’d better not, unless they want to spark a fraud investigation.
Lutnick promises an employment boom (largely for robots)
So how exactly is Trump’s trade war going to create American jobs in a timely fashion when it takes years to build a factory? Robots!
In an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Lutnick claimed that low-wage factory workers in foreign countries are going to be replaced by fancy robots in the good old U.S. of A. That may sound like robots are taking our jobs, but the secretary explained Americans are going to … fix the robots or something? Honestly, Lutnick’s word salad was kind of hard to follow. But the bottom line is ROBOTS! Get excited!
Commerce Secretary @HowardLutnick tells Primetime that robot manufacturing is going to revive the American workforce. pic.twitter.com/7jjai8dNFp
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) April 4, 2025
Lutnick dreams of electric American sheep
When asked to provide details on the coming robot revolution on Face the Nation, Lutnick was hazy on whether that would actually come to pass, or Trump’s trade deals would just create American sweat shops.
“Well, remember, the army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little – little screws to make iPhones, that kind of thing is going to come to America,” he said, “It’s going to be automated and great Americans — the tradecraft of America, is going to fix them, is going to work on them. They’re going to be mechanics. There’s going to be HVAC specialists. There’s going to be electricians, the tradecraft of America.”
Lutnick: “The army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones — that kind of thing is going to come to America.” pic.twitter.com/g9TqxGxLHs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 6, 2025
Lutnick gushes over “one of the most extraordinary Truth posts”
You can laugh now, but someday we’re going to see a “Room Where It Happens”-style Broadway number about Lutnick and Bessent watching Trump wage a trade war via Truth Social.
Scott Bessent and I sat with the President while he wrote one of the most extraordinary Truth posts of his Presidency. The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction. pic.twitter.com/wNvg8NBnSR
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) April 9, 2025
Lutnick declares his commitment to “exploding our economy”
Hey, at least he’s honest!
The Golden Age is coming. We are committed to protecting our interests, engaging in global negotiations and exploding our economy.
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) April 10, 2025
