Peter Navarro, the America First economist who served prison time rather than testify against President-elect Donald Trump regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, is set to return to the administration. According to CNBC, Trump has selected Navarro to serve as Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing in his upcoming administration. The appointment marks a notable comeback for the loyal ally, who spent four months in prison for defying a congressional subpoena related to the Capitol riots. In a statement, Trump referenced Navarro’s conviction, signaling his continued support for the former adviser.
“I am pleased to announce that Peter Navarro, a man who was treated horribly by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it, will serve as my Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning. “During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American. He helped me renegotiate unfair Trade Deals like NAFTA and the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and moved every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST….”
Navarro, 75, has been out of prison for less than five months, highlighting how swiftly Trump is assembling his leadership team ahead of his January 20 inauguration, CNBC reported. In August, Navarro spoke at the Republican National Convention on the day he was released, where he praised Trump for surviving an assassination attempt and emphasized that loyalty remains a cornerstone of the MAGA movement. Navarro previously served as Trump’s Director of Industrial Policy and Director of the White House National Trade Council.
One of Trump’s key priorities will be to implement new trade agreements that impose significant tariffs on goods competing with those produced in the United States. Countries such as China, Mexico, and Canada are central to these efforts, which Navarro is expected to lead in his new position. He has previously advocated for the controversial economic policy and doubted the likelihood of retaliation “for the simple reason that we are the most lucrative and biggest market in the world,” he told Fox Business in 2020. “They know they’re cheating us, and all we’re doing is standing up for ourselves.”
Navarro’s 2006 book, The Coming China Wars, sparked debate in economic circles for its blunt warnings about the rise of China as a global superpower in the 21st century, which turned out to be correct. His criticism of “global capitalism,” particularly the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs and production, aligns closely with Trump’s conviction that America’s economic systems have failed its workers. That shared perspective has resonated with labor organizations. Major unions, including the Teamsters and the International Association of Fire Fighters, chose not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 election, citing Trump’s commitment to curbing overseas investments by American corporations as a key factor in their decision.
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