Howard Lutnick, billionaire CEO of the financial institution Cantor Fitzgerald, has officially been selected as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Trump announced Tuesday that he’s “thrilled” to nominate Lutnick, saying he’ll “lead our Tariff and Trade agenda.”
Last month, Lutnick made an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box to detail how Trump’s tariff proposals will help the American economy and workers.
“If we want to make it in America, tariff it, or if we’re competing with it, tariff it. But, we need to protect the American worker. Finally, someone is going to protect the American worker,” he said.
Lutnick also spoke at Trump’s famous Madison Square Garden rally in New York City where he promoted the idea of eliminating the federal income tax.
The businessman has previously been supportive of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, leading many people in the crypto world to celebrate his nomination.