Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick speaks in the Oval Office of the White House after President Donald Trump signed an executive order, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Canadians may know U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as the face of Donald Trump's tariffs. But nearly 25 years ago, he became a national figure when more than 650 employees of his Wall Street firm located in the World Trade Center were killed on Sept. 11, 2001.