Op-Ed: Alex Titus: Howard Lutnick is the right pick to run the Commerce Department

President Trump is delivering an early win on his commitment to advance America First policies and push back on nefarious trade practices from countries like China.

President Donald J. Trump announced this week that his transition co-chair, long-time friend, and billionaire entrepreneur Howard Lutnick will serve as his Secretary of Commerce, a key role to help carry out the president’s historic economic and trade agenda. By selecting Lutnick, President Trump is delivering an early win on his commitment to advance America First policies and push back on nefarious trade practices from countries like China.

Between 1998 and 2021, the United States lost an estimated 5 million manufacturing jobs as a consequence of trade deficits with other countries, including roughly 3.7 million jobs to China alone. During the same period, more than 70,000 manufacturing plants shuttered throughout the American heartland. The consequences have been devastating. Once great American manufacturing towns have fallen by the wayside. American families have suffered, and workers have been left without jobs. Washington elites have continued to push America-last trade policies, with utter disregard for American workers.

President Trump has sought to change this. During his first term, he imposed tariffs on China, renegotiated trade deals, and put American workers first. But much work remains to be done.

As President Trump has repeatedly stated during his campaign, the next four years will be critical to leveling America’s trade deficit and bringing prosperity back to the American heartland. The Department of Commerce is perhaps the most critical agency in this endeavor.

Little known outside of Washington circles, the Department of Commerce plays an integral role in American economic and foreign policy. The agency at its core is responsible for driving domestic economic growth, supporting American businesses abroad, and pushing back on unfair trade practices. Commerce also has significant authority over fishing and offshore activities, manages the census, and ensures the security of innovative and critical technology to national security.

The new Commerce Secretary, who will also help to oversee the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, will have an unprecedented opportunity to redefine America’s trade relationships and support American workers. Howard Lutnick is the perfect choice for this job.

Lutnick’s life has been defined by his willingness to persevere through tragedy and adversity.  When he was a senior in high school, his mother tragically passed away from lymphoma and his father died shortly after that due to a tragic accident during cancer treatment. Lutnick and his two siblings were then forced to raise themselves. Years later, Lutnick lost his brother and more than six hundred employees from his firm on 9/11, trapped at their desks when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. Despite facing immense tragedy and potential business ruin, Lutnick rebuilt his firm Cantor Fitzgerald into a Wall Street powerhouse and has raised more than $180 million for 9/11 victims’ families. His incredible story embodies everything that is best about the American spirit.

Along with his endeavor to support 9/11 families, Lutnick has developed a personal commitment to supporting American workers, becoming one of the key voices advocating for President Trump’s trade agenda. He has called tariffs “an amazing tool to protect the American worker” and championed redefining the U.S.-China trade relationship for better outcomes for American workers and businesses. Importantly, Lutnick has also highlighted non-tariff trade barriers that hinder American exports and prevent our businesses from competing on a level playing field.

In addition to Lutnick’s management and policy chops, he has vital experience in talent spotting which will be crucial to the success of the Trump-Vance administration broadly. He has led the personnel side of the Trump-Vance transition and helped the President build out his team.

Presidential transitions are notoriously difficult, so Lutnick’s contributions to a thus far successful transition give confidence that he will be able to effectively staff the Department of Commerce to carry out the President’s agenda.

Lutnick has the skills, fortitude, and drive to rack up big wins for President Trump, and American workers and businesses should be thrilled over his selection. Gone are the days of bad trade policies, cheating and theft from countries like China, and the Washington consensus that put the American people last. It’s time for change, and President Trump, Lutnick, and the rest of the president’s team are ready to deliver it.

Alex Titus served as an advisor in the Trump administration. Before the administration, he worked as a Policy Advisor and Spokesman for President Donald Trump’s former super PAC, America First Action. He resides in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife and daughter.