Haverford College Students Demand Removal of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s Name from Library Over Epstein Ties
By Sam Barron | Thursday, 19 February 2026 06:30 PM EST
Students and alumni at Haverford College in Pennsylvania are urging the institution to remove Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s name from its library due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
Lutnick graduated from Haverford College in 1983 and remains the school’s largest donor. The commerce secretary has faced scrutiny after he acknowledged last week during a Senate subcommittee hearing that he visited Epstein’s private island following the financier’s conviction for soliciting underage prostitutes.
Lutnick previously stated he severed ties with Epstein in 2005. At the hearing, he described their contact as limited to “a handful of emails and a pair of meetings that were years apart,” adding: “I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with him.”
Last year, on the podcast “Pod Force One,” Lutnick said he had resolved to “never be in the room” with Epstein again after a 2005 tour of Epstein’s New York home disturbed him and his wife. However, under questioning by senators, Lutnick admitted to an hourlong engagement at Epstein’s home in 2011.
Haverford College President Wendy Raymond confirmed she is considering the issue of removing Lutnick’s name from the library. “A growing number of Fords [Haverford students and alumni] have written to express their dismay over these revelations and have requested immediate action,” Raymond wrote Thursday in a message to faculty, students, and alumni.
“I am taking this complex issue under deep consideration,” Raymond added. “Our core values call us to act with curiosity, discernment, and integrity. This duty of care in upholding our mission and values is a constant.” The college president stated she would “take the time necessary to continue to reflect and to engage with thought partners before determining whether to activate a review committee” on renaming the library.
Lutnick has been in contact with Michael Kim, Haverford’s board chair and a billionaire private equity executive, regarding requests to remove his name. Kim has expressed support for Lutnick.
The White House countered bipartisan calls for Lutnick’s resignation, emphasizing unity within the Trump administration. In an email, White House spokesman Kush Desai stated: “President Trump stands firmly behind his Cabinet. President Trump has assembled the best and most transformative Cabinet in modern history. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick and the Department of Commerce, remains focused on delivering for the American people. The president’s cabinet is working as one team, and they remain focused on results.”
Lutnick’s spokesperson declined to comment.
