REPORT: White House Officials Discuss Lutnick's Future as Commerce Secretary
Reuters reports that officials are discussing Howard Lutnick's future amid scrutiny of U.S. trade restrictions and AI-chip exports to China. A White House official says President Trump maintains complete confidence in him.
Senior White House officials are discussing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's future, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two people familiar with the discussions. The report does not establish that a decision has been made or that Lutnick has left his position.
The discussions come amid criticism from lawmakers over the administration's refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key U.S. trade blacklist and questions about federal oversight of Nvidia's exports to China, according to Reuters.
Lutnick's critics have questioned whether the administration has done enough to restrict shipments of advanced AI chips to China. Reuters said that criticism predated the latest developments surrounding Nvidia.
A White House official defended Lutnick, saying President Donald Trump "maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to carry out the position."
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment specifically on Lutnick's future. No departure or replacement was confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.