Trump selects Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary to lead trade and industry efforts

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Howard Lutnick as his commerce secretary. Lutnick is a Wall Street executive and co-chair of Trump's transition team. He will oversee a large agency with an $11 billion budget focused on U.S. industry. Lutnick will lead the tariff and trade agenda and has been involved in discussions about expanding tariffs. His role will influence manufacturing, trade restrictions, and technology regulation. Lutnick has donated $1 million to Trump's super PAC and may face scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest due to his ongoing business ties in finance and cryptocurrency.