Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick. As is the case with many of Trump’s other nominees, Lutnick’s record and rhetoric raise serious concerns about the clean energy economy and the future of responsible investing.
In response, Unlocking America’s Future Spokesperson Kyle Herrig said the following:
“Howard Lutnick is a Trump loyalist who has called climate change a concern only of the ‘elitist’ and the rich. Lutnick has also been an outspoken investor in anti-ESG funds, including one founded by Vivek Ramaswamy with financial backing from Peter Thiel and JD Vance. As his own investments show, it couldn’t be more clear that Lutnick stands opposed to responsible investing and growing a sustainable, resilient economy—and that the Senate should reject his nomination.”
Additional Background:
- In a September 2024 interview with Fox Business, he suggested that climate change is a concern only of the “elitist” and the rich, including those who attend Ivy League schools, live on the East Coast and are “pro-Palestinian.”
Lutnick is an investor in anti-ESG Strive Asset Management, which was founded by Vivek Ramaswamy with financial backing from Peter Thiel and JD Vance.