Navarro, 75, has been a top Trump ally and served in the first Trump administration in a similar capacity as director of the now-defunct Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. Navarro spent several months in prison this year for failing to comply with congressional subpoenas related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
“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 said on social media. “During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American.”
It is unclear if the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, which was dissolved once President Joe Biden entered office, will be reestablished or if Navarro will work as a manufacturing adviser in another organizational capacity.
Trump praised Navarro’s previous White House tenure and noted his background as a Harvard-educated economist. He also hailed his views on U.S. trade policy. Trump has vowed an even more protectionist stance heading into his second term, including a ramp-up in tariffs.
“The Senior Counselor position leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills,” Trump wrote. “His mission will be to help successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas.”
Navarro has been a fixture in Trumpworld for years and was an economic policy adviser to Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. A staunch China hawk, Navarro is known for his protectionist trade views.
Just hours after being released from prison, Navarro addressed the Republican National Convention, accusing Biden and Democrats of weaponizing the Justice Department.
“I’m a small part of the bigger issue,” Navarro said. “If we don’t control the government, the government will control us.”
Navarro will be part of an ideologically diverse team of economic advisers that Trump has appointed and nominated for his second term. Trump picked Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department, Howard Lutnick to run the Commerce Department, and Kevin Hassett to be director of the National Economic Council.
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Trump has nominated Jamieson Greer as the U.S. trade representative. He will likely work closely with Navarro and the rest of the economic team to shape trade policy.
The president-elect and his allies contend that tariffs can help boost U.S. manufacturing by compelling companies to produce their goods domestically, although critics argue that tariffs are akin to a tax on consumers and will make inflation worse.