Given the dismal mood on campus following Election Day, it may come as a surprise that a Ford is playing a prominent role in President-Elect Trump’s administration. Howard Lutnick ’83 is co-leading the presidential transition effort, overseeing personnel. The longtime Cantor Fitzgerald CEO has been a staunch ally of Trump, having contributed millions to each of his presidential campaigns and hosting high-profile fundraisers in the Hamptons.
Lutnick has been no stranger to Haverford since graduating, donating upwards of 65 million dollars to the College, making him the most generous donor in school history. He served as the Chair of the Board of Managers and funded The Allison and Howard J. Lutnick Library.
Lutnick’s love for Haverford runs deeper than just the classes he took and people he met. After losing his mother to lymphoma during his senior year of high school, Lutnick’s father died of colon and lung cancer during his freshman year at Haverford. The then-president of the College, Robert Stevens, offered Lutnick a full scholarship to continue pursuing his economics degree. Former President Kim Benston later created an endowed scholarship in Lutnick’s name to support students facing catastrophic situations.
Lutnick credits much of his success to his liberal arts education. “The concept of a perfect, small liberal arts education that actually aims to do one step better and educate the whole being, I think that’s a beautiful quest.” he said in 2015.
That this liberal arts education would lead him—a former Democrat, at that—to support Donald Trump is a separate issue that confounds some. Chair of Political Science, Steve McGovern, had this to say about Lutnick:
Some have asked how a prominent Republican like Howard Lutnick could emerge from a traditionally left-of-center school like Haverford. I have no problem with Haverford alums becoming prominent Republicans. We train students to think critically and independently and so if conservative politics is where some wind up, that’s fine. But I do have a problem with a Haverford alum becoming a prominent backer of Trump, who is not a conservative, because his rhetoric and behavior are so offensive and hurtful to so many people, particularly vulnerable populations, and because Trump poses such a massive and unprecedented threat to basic democratic principles and practices. I would have hoped that any Haverford graduate would know better.
McGovern emphasizes critical thinking as a core tenet of the Haverford education and notes that it is natural for this to lead different people to different viewpoints or political parties. However, citing Trump’s “offensive and hurtful” rhetoric, McGovern cannot support a Haverford graduate becoming one of Trump’s right-hand men. He argues that Trump is not truly a conservative— he is a threat to basic democracy.
Giri Parmeswaran, the current chair of the Economics department, expressed a different viewpoint than McGovern. “Haverford’s economics department is committed to training students to be strong critical thinkers, regardless of their political affinity,” Parmeswaran said. “Our abiding concern is that our students and alumni become strong economic thinkers, whatever viewpoints they may hold.”
“[Lutnick] has supported Haverford in a variety of ways” Parmeswaran noted. “Beyond this, Mr Lutnick is free to express his views and marshal resources for his preferred political candidate – just as we all are.”
Looking ahead, Lutnick has a busy two months ahead of him as he works to fill out President-Elect Trump’s cabinet. Reportedly considering thousands of candidates, the cabinet has already begun to take shape with Susan Wiles named chief of staff, Rep. Elise Stefanik selected as ambassador to the United Nations, Senator Marco Rubio reportedly tapped for Secretary of State, and Lee Zeldin nominated to lead the E.P.A. Concerns over conflict of interest have been raised, as Lutnick is selecting executives that regulate cryptocurrency, a major area of business for Cantor Fitzgerald.
The second Trump administration may bring radical governmental change, and Lutnick is at the center of that. He has appeared publicly alongside Elon Musk and will be involved in the quest for governmental efficiency. Now one of the most influential people in the country, Howard Lutnick is poised to make his mark on Washington.
Oh Haverford – and oh, Giri Parmeswaran! Howard Lutnick suggests that removing income taxes and raising tariffs will be great for the economy! At a Madison Square Garden Trump rally for Trump, he said “At the turn of the century [1900], our economy was rocking…. We had no income tax, and all we had was tariffs.” (See https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/10/howard-lutnick-trump-administration.). Maybe I’ve read too much of Paul Krugman, but I don’t think that eliminating income tax and raising tariffs in 2025 will make our economy “rock.”
Prof. Parmeswaran notes that “Haverford’s economics department trains…strong critical thinkers….our abiding concern is that our students and alumni become strong economic thinkers, whatever viewpoints they may hold.” I’m hard pressed to refer to the above from Mr. Lutnick as simply a “viewpoint.” It certainly isn’t the kind of “strong economic thinking” that I expect from Haverford students and alums, regardless of their political affiliations.
You’re in a tough place, Haverford, given that your major donor is suffering from idealized, simplistic thinking about our 21st century global economy. As a parent of 2 Haverford alums and mother-in-law of a third, I wish you a lot of luck!
Money and power have seemed to over take the Quaker ideals at Haverford. What kind of critical thinking comes to the conclusion that a person like Trump is good for any political office let alone president? Howard Lutnick must have forgotten those “good people” who yelled, “the Jews shall not replace us!” or being rich and powerful is more important than living simply. You call him one of the most influential people in the country, how sad that he will make his mark on Washington.