Michelle ThompsonThe US president’s top trade advisor is the key intellectual force behind the global tariffs and the trade conflict with China.
Elon Musk referred to Peter Navarro as “dumber than a sack of bricks,” yet in the battle for political influence, it is Navarro, not Musk, who currently holds Donald Trump’s ear in the White House.
The turmoil in global trade reveals that at 75 years old, Navarro, as Trump’s chief trade adviser, is the intellectual force behind the tariffs and trade war with China, while Musk, the disruptive tech mogul, has been overwhelmed by the chaos. In contrast, Navarro’s calm demeanor reassures the U.S. that things are under control.
Despite Musk publicly calling him a “moron” and comparing him to a sack of bricks, Navarro remained composed. “I’ve been called worse,” he remarked to NBC.
Indeed, Navarro has been labeled a charlatan and a criminal, with some accusing him of jeopardizing the global economy. His transformation from a little-known academic nearing retirement at the University of California, Irvine, into a key player in U.S. politics is remarkable. A decade ago, his hawkish stance on China caught the attention of Trump’s 2016 campaign, leading him to Washington. There, he played pivotal roles in economic policy, the COVID-19 pandemic response, and the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, ultimately landing him in jail for contempt of Congress—only to reemerge more influential in Trump’s second term.
John Pitney, a political scientist, described Navarro as part of America’s tradition of reinvention, both cosmetic and ideological.
Critics fear that Navarro’s bold economic ideas and disregard for the postwar global order could lead to a recession or backlash. Yet for Trump, Navarro is the expert advocating for a necessary shift toward protectionism.
Navarro’s early life and career suggested a different path. Raised by a musician and a secretary, he earned a master’s in public administration and a PhD in economics from Harvard. His doctoral thesis focused on corporate charity, not trade. He taught economics at San Diego universities and wrote books on investing before shifting his focus to China, which he painted as an aggressive, deceitful force in global trade, especially regarding currency manipulation and intellectual property theft.
In 2016, Navarro’s views caught the attention of Trump’s campaign, and he began advising on China policy. Navarro supported Trump’s harsh rhetoric about Beijing and endorsed the proposal for 45% tariffs on Chinese goods to force China to capitulate. He believed the U.S. was already in a trade war with China but hadn’t fought back, and tariffs were a way to call for a truce.
Navarro’s role in Trump’s administration survived a controversy involving his books citing a fictitious expert, Ron Vara—an anagram of Navarro’s own name. He dismissed the issue as an “inside joke.”
During Trump’s first term, Navarro expanded his influence, even into public health during the pandemic, and maintained a strong personal rapport with Trump. After Trump’s loss in 2020, Navarro promoted the false theory of a rigged election and attempted to block its certification. He was convicted of contempt of Congress in 2022, serving four months in prison.
Now, as Trump’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Navarro’s influence is again felt in tariffs, stock market fluctuations, and economic warnings, even though the most severe tariffs were temporarily paused.
Despite Musk’s insults, Navarro remains unshaken. A White House spokesperson downplayed the dispute, saying, “Boys will be boys.”
