President Donald Trump allegedly berated Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a heated internal clash over tariffs, branding him a p*ssy, according to a forthcoming book on his administration.
The confrontation reportedly unfolded in April 2025 as Lutnick attempted to persuade the President that aggressive tariffs would not leave American automakers at a disadvantage, a position that clashed with Trumps long-standing protectionist instincts, as reported by Mediaite. The book, authored by New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman and Axios journalist Jonathan Swan, is said to draw on more than 1,000 interviews conducted over three years, and was obtained in advance by CNN and Politico.
You used to be a killer, Howard, the president said, according to the upcoming book by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. I remember when you were 35, you were a killer. And now youve got your beautiful wife, and your big house, and youre just soft. And youre a p*ssy. You know what you are? Youre a p*ssy.
The authors write that Trump framed Lutnicks supposed change in temperament as a symptom of success and comfort, a critique consistent with the Presidents preference for hard-charging advisers over risk-averse technocrats. Quotes in the book, according to the authors, come from the person speaking, a direct witness, or contemporaneous notes, recordings, or transcripts.
According to the book, Lutnick later embraced the insult once tariff revenue surged, reportedly telling Trump he was his twenty-five-billion-dollar-a-month p*ssy. That rejoinder underscores how the administrations tariff strategy, derided by many establishment economists, ultimately produced tens of billions in revenue that Trumps allies argue strengthened Americas negotiating hand abroad.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended both mens working relationship in a statement that cast the episode as internal banter within a results-driven team. The President has always sought the best and brightest individuals for his Administration, and Secretary Lutnick and President Trump continue to work closely together to deliver trillions of dollars in investments for the American people, Desai said.
Other standout details from the book include claims that White House staff monitored the Presidents trash because he was discarding high-end silverware and leaving late-night messes. A nighttime snacker, the President would frequently leave an array of empty potato chip bags, Starbucks wrappers, and ice cream cartons in the trash, or on the floor, the book reads.
Another odd instance from the book includes Trump allegedly bragging that he was more powerful than Adolf Hitler. While such anecdotes are eagerly amplified by liberal media outlets, conservatives are likely to view them as part of a familiar pattern: sensational, personality-driven stories that overshadow the administrations policy record on trade, economic growth, and restoring an America-first posture on the world stage.
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