United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has just been caught in a lie. Last year, Howard Lutnick claimed he had only met Jeffrey Epstein once, briefly in 2005, and described his encounter with Epstein as gross. Take a look: Here’s a reminder of what Lutnick said last year after meeting Epstein in 2005. Massive liar. pic.twitter.com/ZeluDZH9O9 — Low Profile (@SeosQuinn) February 10, 2026 Now, while testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Lutnick admitted to visiting Epstein’s Island and having lunch with the convicted sex offender in 2012. Here’s a clip: Lutnick: I did have lunch with (Epstein) as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation. My wife was with me as were my 4 children and nannies. And we had lunch on the island. That is true. For an hour. And we left with all of my children. pic.twitter.com/xeaSr9z9bM — Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) February 10, 2026 NBC News broke the story and provided further context on Lutnick’s visit to Epstein’s Island: Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday admitted he and his family had lunch on the private island of notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein years earlier. “I did have lunch with him, as I was on a boat going across on a family vacation” in 2012, Lutnick said in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. “My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies,” he said. “I had another couple with — they were there as well, with their children.” “And we had lunch on the island, that is true, for an hour,” he said. “And we left with all of my children, with my nannies and my wife, all together. We were on family vacation,” he said. The secretary’s admission came as he faces bipartisan calls to resign following the release of records showing that his business and personal relationship with Epstein was more extensive than previously known. Watch Lutnick get questioned by Sen. Van Hollen here: HOLY SHIT: Vanhollen just confronted Lutnick over his Epstein lies and proved he LIED when he said he cut off all contact. Lutnick ADMITS: “I did have lunch with him… on the island.” That was AFTER Epstein’s conviction. Lutnick is disgusting and needs to go. pic.twitter.com/DFMupkukMB — CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) February 10, 2026 Lutnick’s admission comes after an email in the Epstein File exposed his communication with Epstein in 2012: A 2012 email shows Howard Lutnick planning to visit Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean. Lutnick previously claimed he cut off all ties with Epstein in 2005 and vowed never to be in the same room with him again. Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/YlPYuyMU3R — AF Post (@AFpost) January 30, 2026 Rep. Thomas Massie has called for Lutnick to resign, per Forbes: Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to “just resign” on Sunday, telling CNN’s Manu Raju the Cabinet member “has a lot to answer for” over his ties to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Although Lutnick previously claimed he cut ties with Epstein in 2005, new emails released in January show the two were in contact at least through 2018, and planned a trip to visit Epstein’s private island. The Commerce Department previously said Lutnick only had “limited interactions” with Epstein” and insisted the secretary was never accused of wrongdoing. Massie appears to be the first Republican to call for Lutnick’s resignation, after highlighting the commerce secretary’s connection to Epstein in a post on X on Saturday and joining at least one Democrat—Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif, in calling for Lutnick’s resignation this weekend. In a statement sent to Forbes, White House spokesman Kush Desai said “the entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick and the Department of Commerce, remains focused on delivering for the American people.”