Commerce Secretary Lutnick Faces Questions Over 2012 Epstein Island Visit

White House stands by Lutnick despite timeline contradictions in his previous statements.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012 - seven years after he claimed to have cut off all contact with the convicted sex offender. The White House has expressed continued support for Lutnick, but the timeline discrepancy has raised questions about his credibility.

Why it matters

Lutnick's visit to Epstein's island contradicts his previous statements about severing ties with the disgraced financier in 2005. This raises concerns about Lutnick's truthfulness and could undermine his credibility as a senior administration official involved in high-stakes trade negotiations and regulatory decisions.

The details

In his testimony, Lutnick claimed the 2012 visit was a benign family outing, with his wife, four children, and nannies in tow. However, when pressed on why he visited a man he supposedly hadn't spoken to in seven years, Lutnick said he couldn't recall the reason. The White House has stood by Lutnick, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterating the president's confidence in his Commerce Secretary.

  • Lutnick previously indicated he severed ties with Epstein in 2005.
  • Lutnick testified that he visited Epstein's island in 2012.

The players

Howard Lutnick

The U.S. Commerce Secretary who testified about visiting Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012, despite previously claiming to have cut off all contact with Epstein in 2005.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who expressed the administration's continued support for Commerce Secretary Lutnick.

President Trump

The U.S. president who the White House says has long maintained that Epstein was "a creep" and that Trump kicked him out of Mar-a-Lago.

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What they’re saying

“Secretary Lutnick remains a very important member of President Trump's team and the president fully supports the secretary.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (conservativejournalreview.com)

“My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple — they were there, as well with their children. And we had lunch on the island. That is true, for an hour, and we left with all of my children, with my nannies, and my wife, all together. We were all together.”

— Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary (conservativejournalreview.com)

“I don't recall why we did it.”

— Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary (conservativejournalreview.com)

What’s next

The White House has indicated that it will continue to stand by Lutnick, but the Commerce Secretary may face additional questions and scrutiny over the timeline discrepancy in his statements regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges facing senior administration officials when their past statements and actions come under intense public and media scrutiny. Lutnick's credibility is now in question, which could undermine his effectiveness in high-profile roles involving trade negotiations and regulatory decisions.