Trump world turns on Lutnick

Inside the White House, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been perhaps the biggest proponent of ”Liberation Day,” President Donald Trump’s promised unveiling of sweeping new tariffs on Wednesday. But as the day nears, the potential fallout from those tariffs may well liberate Lutnick from his role in the administration, according to half dozen people close to the White House.

While Americans and much of the world brace for a possible season of pain following the imposition of the new tranche of tariffs, Trump’s orbit is ready to play the blame game should things go poorly for the White House. And all the fingers will be pointing at Lutnick, two people close to the administration, granted anonymity to discuss the private dynamics, told POLITICO.

“I think people would take special pleasure in blaming him,” said one.

Lutnick spends substantial time in the Oval Office, hyping the president on his tariff strategy and “giving him bad advice — pushing more aggressive tariffs,” the person said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remains the “measured voice” advocating targeted tariffs. Trade adviser Peter Navarro has never been shy about his affection for tariffs, but he’s a known quantity and isn’t seen as shaking anything up. By contrast, Lutnick is “a new voice at the table pushing crazy shit,” in the words of the person familiar with the situation. “I don’t know anyone that isn’t pissed off at him.”

“Every member of the Trump administration is aligned on finally leveling the playing field for American industries and workers,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai told POLITICO. “President Trump has assembled the best and brightest trade team in modern American history to reignite American Greatness, and they are hard at work following the same playbook — President Trump’s playbook — to deliver for the American people.”

Weeks ago, POLITICO reported that among White House staff and allies, patience with Lutnick was wearing thin amid his frequent TV appearances and incessant proximity to Trump. Now, it’s even more frayed as the economic stakes have reached a new high.

“Everybody” in Washington is freaking out about what could come on April 2, said one of the people, a White House ally.

The corporate world has “no optimism” right now, said another. “They know tariffs are coming, and their hope is that the damage will be fast and significant enough to quickly have the administration backtrack.”

Trump, meanwhile, revels in the uncertainty. He “likes the shock and awe,” a White House official said, and aims to capitalize on it. “Each country needs to panic and call. … Trump wants to hear you grovel and say you’ll cut a deal.”

Can groveling make a difference between now and “Liberation Day”?

“I think it depends,” the White House official said. “Some [nations] will cut a deal before and some just won’t get it and will get pounded. And then we’ll see how fast they start dealing.”