Elon Musk says Howard Lutnick would ‘enact change’ if picked to be US Treasury secretary
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Cantor Fitzgerald chief executive Howard Lutnick is said to be in the running to be US Treasury secretary.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
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WASHINGTON - Billionaire Elon Musk, an adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, said on Nov 16 that Cantor Fitzgerald chief executive Howard Lutnick would “actually enact change” if chosen as US Treasury secretary.
Trump has not announced his nominee for the role, but Mr Lutnick and investor Scott Bessent are serious contenders for the job. Sources familiar with his thinking say Trump has been wrestling with picking one of the two, or considering another option.
Mr Musk said Mr Bessent is “a business-as-usual choice”.
“Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change, one way or another,” Mr Musk said on social media platform X.
“Would be interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for Trump to consider feedback.”
Mr Musk has been increasingly influential in Trump’s inner circle and has been staying at the President-elect’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, as Trump forms his incoming government.
At a gala event on the night of Nov 14, Trump teased Mr Musk about his ongoing post-election stay at Mar-a-Lago.
“I can’t get him out of here. He just loves this place. And I like having him here,” said Trump.
At the end of the event, Mr Musk got onstage. "The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear. The people have spoken, the people want change," he said.
Mr Lutnick has been helping Trump with his transition efforts. He has praised the President-elect’s economic policies, including his use of tariffs. REUTERS
