Trump bringing former aide Navarro back as senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he has appointed Peter Navarro, his former adviser who was once imprisoned, as the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing in his upcoming administration.

Navarro, 75, previously served as the director of the White House National Trade Council during Trump's first term, Caliber.Az reports via Western media.

Earlier this year, he spent four months in federal prison after being held in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6th riot.

Trump expressed his support for Navarro on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, “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.”

He added, “During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American.”

Navarro was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress after he refused to provide documents and testimony to the House committee investigating the events of the January 6th Capitol attack. He had cited executive privilege as the reason for his refusal. The committee held him in contempt in April 2022, and the Justice Department subsequently filed criminal charges.

Trump explained Navarro’s role would be to “help successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas,” highlighting Navarro’s experience and policy expertise. The position does not require Senate confirmation.

During Trump’s first term, Navarro played a key role in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which became the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2018, and the updated United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Trump praised Navarro’s contributions, stating, “Peter had helped move ‘every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST.’”

Describing Navarro’s qualifications, Trump noted, “Peter is not just a superb, Harvard-trained Economist, he is a noted author of more than a dozen bestselling books on strategic business management and unfair Trade.” He continued, “He did a superb job for the American People in my First Term. Peter will do even better as Senior Counselor to protect American Workers, and truly Make American Manufacturing Great Again.”

Navarro holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University and has taught economics and public policy at the University of California, Irvine. He is the second former Trump aide convicted for refusing to cooperate with the January 6th committee.

By Khagan Isayev