Fact Check: Did Trump fire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick?

WASHINGTON, DC: Days after the replacement of Pam Bondi as the Attorney General, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms, claiming that the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, has been fired from his position, sparking concerns about internal instability in the administration of President Donald Trump. Let us analyze and fact-check the claim.

Claim: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been fired

According to the rumor, Lutnick has been fired from his position as Commerce Secretary. The claim spread days after Trump announced on April 2 that Pam Bondi would be replaced as the attorney general. 

The claim amplified by various accounts on X has garnered thousands of views and has triggered discussions about instability in the Trump administration amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The comments under the post suggest that many believe it to be authentic, while a few others remained sceptical, questioning the authenticity of the claim.

Fact Check: Unconfirmed, no official communication supports the claim

The claim, however, is false, as there are no official statements or confirmations from the White House about the firing. A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports by any prominent news media outlets. 

Also, the account from where the claim originated is not credible, and though not explicitly a parody account, the account has posted similar fake and unverified claims for the sake of engagement. 

The claim is based on a report by Politico that stated Trump may have his sights set on Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and is considering other changes.

Howard Lutnick under fire after Pam Bondi's exit

Bondi’s removal comes after months of reported friction within the administration. Her tenure had already been under scrutiny over how certain high-profile records were handled, adding to the pressure surrounding her role.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has since stepped in as acting attorney general while Trump considers a permanent replacement.

Bondi’s departure also marks the second cabinet-level exit in recent weeks, following the earlier dismissal of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Lutnick has been facing bipartisan pressure after admitting in February that he and his family traveled to Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2012, four years after Epstein was convicted of child trafficking.

The secretary previously denied having any relationship with Epstein and stated that he “barely had anything to do with that person.”