2025-04-30T12:55:05Z

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In a recent interview, President Donald Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, found himself at the center of a heated debate regarding the future of manufacturing jobs in the United States. Lutnick has been vocal about the administrations claims that its policies will revitalize American manufacturing, but his comments have unintentionally highlighted a significant reliance on automation, raising eyebrows among critics and supporters alike.

During a Tuesday segment on CNBC, Lutnick attempted to mitigate backlash about his previous statements that implied many manufacturing jobs would be replaced by robots. The discussion centered around the implications of Trump's tariffs on American industries and how they might impact job creation. CNBC host Brian Sullivan pointedly remarked that Lutnick was receiving a lot of guff for his remarks about robots taking over jobs.

Will the robots take the jobs? I mean, its a serious question, Sullivan asked, prompting Lutnick to defend his position. He emphasized that the new factory being constructed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) would indeed create substantial employment opportunities, but he also hinted at the automation that would characterize such operations.

Were going to go look through this plant, and what youre going to see is a highly automated plant that employs 3,000 people per plant. Right? Lutnick stated, acknowledging the high-tech nature of the operations while also asserting that the automated systems would still require skilled technicians for maintenance and operation. Youve got to remember these plants, all these automated arms and stuff, they need to be fixed. They all need a technician to fix them. They need the air conditioning system to fix them. Right? All of these things. This is tradecraft.

Moreover, Lutnick touted the potential earnings for workers in these advanced manufacturing spaces, claiming that salaries could range from $70,000 to $90,000 annually, with possible increases up to $150,000 and $200,000 as employees gain more expertise. This is the future of American manufacturing, he asserted, dismissing online jokes about American workers being relegated to low-skilled jobs akin to sewing machine operators. Specifically, he alluded to AI-generated videos that recently went viral, showcasing Americans manufacturing clothing in a simplistic and outdated manner.

We are going to drive the high-value, high-performance jobs to America, Lutnick insisted. He maintained that while American workers would be engaged in skilled labor, the lower-value production would take place overseas, where labor costs are cheaper. Of course, the rest of the world is going to make the low-value things and sell it to us inexpensively. People just dont want to listen to the truth, he remarked, challenging critics to recognize this shift in manufacturing dynamics.

In another portion of the conversation, Lutnick presented the administration's tariffs as a mechanism to bring factories back to U.S. soil. He argued that these tariffs would necessitate training programs designed to equip workers not for the jobs of the past, but for the great jobs of the future. His remarks implied a shift in the traditional American Dream narrative that encompassed upward mobility for successive generations.

Its time to train people not to do the jobs of the past, but to do the great jobs of the future, Lutnick stated, suggesting a model where individuals could work in advanced manufacturing for their entire careers, with their children potentially following in their footsteps. This perspective, which echoes a broader trend among the elite regarding job security, was met with skepticism, as it contradicted the prevailing belief that each generation should strive for greater opportunities than their predecessors.

Earlier in February, Lutnick had faced criticism for suggesting that the jobs returning to the U.S. would largely consist of low-skilled labor, stating that workers would be screwing little screws while automation would handle most production tasks. He reiterated his point that consumer electronics like iPhones, often manufactured overseas, could be produced domestically using advanced robotics. Think about it, we all hold our iPhones, which we love. Why do they have to be made in Taiwan and China? Why cant those be made with robotics in America? Lutnick questioned, leaning on the administration's commitment to reshoring jobs.

In a subsequent interaction, Lutnick claimed that Apple CEO Tim Cook was eager to bring manufacturing jobs to the U.S. but emphasized that automation was essential for making this feasible. So I talked to Tim Cook the other day. I said, when are you going to bring the iPhone? He said, I need to have the robotic arms, Lutnick recounted. Despite his assertion that Cook is committed to American production, he did not provide a specific timeline for when this might happen.

As Lutnick wrapped up the interview, he reiterated that the future factory technicians would not be executing menial tasks but would instead be involved in managing the advanced technology driving these operations. Americans are going to be the technicians who drive those factories. Theyre not going to be the ones screwing it in, he explained, defending his earlier statements as having been misconstrued.

Following Lutnicks appearance on CNBC, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a surge, rising by 300 points. He also claimed that a significant trade deal was on the horizon, suggesting an agreement with India, though no official confirmation was forthcoming at the time.