Steve Bannon has come out against Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as close to an unmitigated disaster and hes blaming First Buddy Elon Musk for the hire.
The longtime Trump ally, who recently said that the president will run for and win a third term, has been one of the MAGA movements biggest critics of Elon, referring to him as a parasitic illegal immigrant.
Many have been skeptical of Lutnicks bombastic advocacy of the president in the media but Bannon came out in full force against him Monday on his podcast.
Let me be blunt. Lutnick, who is Elons pick for Secretary of Treasury, I think hes close to being an unmitigated disaster. We should see a lot less of Lutnick on TV.
Bannon was especially hard on a much-criticized statement Lutnick made last week about how iPhone factories would come to America and use both automation and millions of American workers.
Were not doing this so we can set up so robots have a better life. In fact, I dont know why Lutnick is still doing media, Bannon said.
In recent comments on Face the Nation, Howard Lutnick — who is a regular on TV talking about tariffs — delivered a rant insisting that American factories will be automated.
Seconds later, he claimed theyll be staffed by American workers.
Steve Bannon has come out against Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as close to an unmitigated disaster and hes blaming First Buddy Elon Musk for the hire
The longtime Trump ally, who recently said that the president will run for and win a third term, has been one of the MAGA movements biggest critics of Elon, referring to him as a parasitic illegal immigrant
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, he said.
Our high school educated Americans — the core to our workforce, is going to have the greatest resurgence of jobs in the history of America to work on these high-tech factories, which are all coming to America.
Thats whats going to build our next generation of America.
Bannon scoffed at Lutnicks flip flop.
No, Howard Lutnick, its not going to all be done by robots, he said, adding that you cant be America first without bringing back manufacturing jobs.
Bannon argued for some replacements, including Elon nemesis Peter Navarro, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and economic adviser.
As far the public face of the operation, Bannon suggested a familiar face instead of Lutnicks.
Stephen Miller should be doing more about trade and about this new economic order that were trying to hammer through, he said.
Many have been skeptical of Lutnicks bombastic advocacy of the president in the media but Bannon came out in full force against him Monday on his podcast
Lutnick has become somewhat of a punching bag for both sides of the aisle since taking the gig in January.
In mid-March, Politico published a story pointing fingers at Lutnick.
Hes trying to be a mini-Trump. I dont think he got the memo that only Trump gets to be Trump, a source close to the administration said of Lutnick. It just reinforces that he doesnt really know how to do the job.
The source also said that Lutnick is constantly auditioning for Trumps approval.
Sources also told the news outlet that Lutnicks recent television appearances showed that he lacked a basic understanding of how the economy worked and how tariffs would impact it.
Lutnick, the former head of Cantor Fitzgerald, also gave a rosier economic picture than he was supposed to.
He said in March on Meet the Press that Americans should absolutely not brace for a recession.
Lutnicks interview aired shortly before Trump, in a pre-taped conversation with Fox Business Maria Bartiromo, wouldnt rule out a recession.
Bannon has largely blamed Elon Musk (pictured center) for the Lutnick (pictured left) pick and suggested Stephen Miller (pictured right) should be the face of trade policy
FALL GUY? Ahead of Liberation Day Wednesday, unnamed sources told Politico that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (pictured) is to blame for some of the White Houses mixed messaging on tariffs
Trump has acknowledged that his tariffs could create some short term economic pain for consumers but argued the import taxes would help the U.S. in the longterm.
Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And its happening, and it will happen rather quickly, Trump said during his joint address to Congress in early March.
There will be a little disturbance, but were OK with that, Trump added. It wont be much.
Trump insiders may be more willing to talk negatively about Lutnick because his Wall Street roots dont necessarily gel with the pro-tariff crowd.
Trumps longtime trade adviser, Peter Navarro, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are considered to be more solid, true believers.
Every member of the Trump administration is aligned on finally leveling the playing field for American industries and workers, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to DailyMail.com Tuesday afternoon.
The White House had been asked if Trump continued to have confidence in Lutnick.
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, Desai added.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right) heads toward Marine One on Friday, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (left) and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (center). They hitched a ride with President Donald Trump to Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump (left) shows off a newly signed executive order alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (right). Lutnicks Wall Street roots - at the helm of the firm Cantor Fitzgerald - have made some in the MAGAverse skeptical of him
Its clear that Trump has great affection for Lutnick.
At his swearing-in ceremony in late February, Trump, again told Lutnicks September 11, 2001 story - how Lutnick wasnt in the North Tower because he was taking his son Kyle to school.
You should leave him more than the other kids, Trump joked.
Cantor Fitzgerald horrifically 658 of its 960 New York-based employees in the terror attacks and Howard lost his younger brother Gary.
During Lutnicks swearing-in, Trump also teased him for previously being a Democrat.
In turn, Lutnick called Trump the smartest, most thoughtful and most intuitive person Ive ever met.
And it is really its amazing to be in this room and to work for him, the Commerce Secretary said.