Tensions simmer over Howard Lutnick, Trump’s favorite dealmaker

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has a knack for landing big deals. But some of his critics question whether they’ll live up to their promises.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 10, 2026. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

In a White House that prizes spectacle, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has mastered the art of the announcement. But behind the scenes, his habit of jumping into complex projects and claiming the win has created growing resentment among other officials irritated at having to clean up the details once the cameras are off.

Lutnick, a New York businessman and longtime friend of the president, has spent the better part of last year executing the kind of last-minute dealmaking that creates the headlines President Donald Trump loves. Even some of his internal critics concede he brings the energy to get the deal.

Now, though, Lutnick finds himself facing bipartisan calls for his resignation after his name surfaced in files about the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and even frustration from Trump himself about how much Lutnick’s family has been profiting off their association with the president’s brand.

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