Trump names staunch loyalist, trade hardliner as senior advisor

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has named Peter Navarro, a staunch loyalist and trade hardliner, as his top advisor on trade. Navarro previously defied a Democratic-led Congress and went to prison rather than cooperate with its inquiry into the Capitol riots.

Trump shared on Truth Social on Wednesday that Navarro was one of the most effective and tenacious members of his first administration, particularly in enforcing his two key principles: “Buy American, Hire American.” As his Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, Navarro will work to protect American workers and revitalize American manufacturing.

Trump also mentioned that Navarro had been treated unfairly by the “Deep State” during his time in prison. Navarro was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the House of Representatives Special Committee investigating the January 6 riots. He spent four months in jail for his refusal to testify.

Navarro joins another hardliner, Jamieson Greer, who has been appointed U.S. International Trade Representative (USITR). Trump credited Greer with helping impose tariffs on China and other countries to combat unfair trade practices during his first term.

Navarro, known for his hawkish stance on China, authored the book Death by China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action, in which he warned about China’s predatory trade practices. He has been an advocate for high tariffs to boost U.S. manufacturing, particularly in response to imports from China. Navarro was a key ally of Trump in pushing tariffs on Chinese goods.

Navarro gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for his early warnings about its impact. In January 2021, he issued a memo that predicted the virus would leave the U.S. vulnerable in the case of a full-blown outbreak and cost the country trillions of dollars. He played a pivotal role in ramping up the production of critical materials during the pandemic, including using the Defense Production Act to convert General Motors into a ventilator manufacturer.

As Assistant to the President and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, Navarro helped renegotiate major trade deals, including NAFTA and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). He was instrumental in replacing NAFTA with a new agreement that Trump considered more favorable to the U.S.

Navarro, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard and has been a professor at a California university, is known for his articulate communication skills. Trump praised Navarro’s “extensive policy analytic and media skills” and stated that Navarro’s mission would be to advance and communicate the Trump administration’s manufacturing, tariff, and trade agendas.