In a recent interview with The Post’s Miranda Devine, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described how he “set the stage” for President Trump to achieve the largest trade agreement of his presidency with the European Union last July.
“I do set the stage, and the president refers to me as the best stage-setter he’s ever encountered,” Lutnick stated in the latest episode of “Pod Force One,” released this week.
“My role is to lay the groundwork so he can seal the deal and maximize our gains. I give it my all—there’s no holding back. I’m not the kind of person who backs off, so I aim to get the best possible outcomes,” he explained.
This approach led to a substantial agreement being reached after just 75 minutes of discussions at Trump’s Turnberry hotel in Scotland.
“He’s a multifaceted person. In the same meeting, he can be soft and tough,” Lutnick reflected on the nature of the trade negotiations. “He can be very kind and warm, yet at the same time be sharp and assertive. During the EU meeting, he simply said, ‘Okay, it seems we won’t finalize this today. We can reconvene in a month or two and tackle it then.’”
The preliminary agreement included a commitment from the EU to purchase $750 billion in American energy products and invest $600 billion in U.S. industries and military resources.
Afterward, Trump boldly declared, “I believe it’s the most significant deal ever negotiated.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also acknowledged Trump as a “tough negotiator and dealmaker.”
Lutnick later shared that he advised von der Leyen on utilizing her unique strengths to navigate negotiations with President Trump successfully.
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“I said, ‘If you want to negotiate with him, leverage your strengths,’” Lutnick recounted. “When I brought this up, she asked, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘You’re a formidable leader. Just convey your thoughts straightforwardly. If he proposes something and you find it unacceptable, just say, ‘That’s not going to work.’”
“But I advised her not to say ‘No!’ outright,” he noted.
“Avoid direct confrontation with Donald Trump; he thrives on it. There’s a reason he’s been a successful businessman and the president of the United States. If you challenge him head-on, he’s bound to counter strongly,” Lutnick continued. “Instead, find a way to collaborate with him; approach the negotiations as partners.”
The trade agreement also specified 15% tariffs on most European goods entering the U.S., while American exports faced no tariffs at all.
When Trump suggested delaying discussions for a future date, Lutnick recalled stepping in: “I asked, ‘We’re all here right now. Why not give it another shot? Madam President, do you genuinely want to finalize a deal, or are you okay with waiting?’”
To which von der Leyen responded, “No, let’s finalize a deal.”
A crucial factor, according to Lutnick, was the EU’s understanding that they needed to address the unsustainable $235 billion trade surplus they enjoyed, selling more to the U.S. than the U.S. sold to them.
“They realized that Donald Trump would push for necessary changes. The question was whether a solution could be crafted that would maintain their jobs, industries, and pharmaceuticals. These factors were important considerations,” he elaborated.
Leading up to the talks in Scotland, Lutnick had been actively communicating with EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to empower von der Leyen in her negotiations.
“She felt hesitant about negotiating, so we strategized on how to approach Trump effectively and succeed,” he shared.
“I warned her that openly attacking Donald Trump would energize him. He doesn’t back down. I’ve never known him to be on the defensive. If you confront him aggressively, you only empower him further,” he remarked.
In other parts of the interview, Lutnick revealed that he only gets around five hours of sleep per night—while Trump sleeps even less.
“He’s like a whirlwind,” Lutnick commented, “You engage, and he quickly rebounds with even greater intensity.”
“Each trade agreement is his operation; I merely set the groundwork. He will always secure a better deal than I possibly could, largely because, well, he’s Donald Trump and the President of the United States. His negotiation prowess, combined with his position, makes him an extraordinary negotiator,” he concluded.
