President-elect Donald Trump has chosen his former adviser, Peter Navarro, to serve as senior counselor for trade and manufacturing in his upcoming administration. At 75, Navarro, who previously led the White House National Trade Council during Trump’s first term, recently made headlines after serving a four-month federal prison sentence for contempt of Congress related to the January 6 investigation.
Want to know more about Peter Navarro? Keep reading—we’ve got all the details on his life, career, controversies, and more!
Who Is Peter Navarro?
Peter Navarro, born on July 15, 1949, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an American economist and author known for shaping U.S. trade policy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. Navarro was a professor emeritus of economics and public policy at the University of California, Irvine.
In the political arena, Navarro was a key economic and trade advisor during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Following Trump’s election, he was appointed Director of the White House National Trade Council, a position he held from January to April 2017. Subsequently, he served as the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director until January 2021. Navarro is recognized for his strong stance on reducing trade deficits and has been a vocal critic of China’s economic practices.
In 2023, Navarro was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack investigation. He served a four-month prison sentence and was fined $9,500. Despite this, Navarro steadfastly supported Trump and advocated for his policies.
In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Navarro as a senior advisor on trade and manufacturing in the upcoming administration. This decision underscores Trump’s commitment to his protectionist trade policies and indicates a continuation of the administration’s focus on reshoring manufacturing and imposing tariffs on imports.
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Peter Navarro Biography
Here is a detailed biography of Peter Navarro presented in table format:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter Kent Navarro |
| Date of Birth | July 15, 1949 |
| Birthplace | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| Age | 75 years old (as of 2024) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | – Bachelor of Arts, Tufts University |
| – Ph.D. in Economics, Harvard University | |
| Profession | Economist, Author, Political Advisor |
| Academic Career | – Professor Emeritus of Economics and Public Policy, UC Irvine |
| – Published several academic books on economics and trade | |
| Political Roles | – Director of the White House National Trade Council (2017) |
| – Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (2017–2021) | |
| – Senior Trade Advisor to Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign | |
| – Announced as Senior Advisor on Trade and Manufacturing (2024) | |
| Key Policies | – Strong advocate for reducing U.S. trade deficits |
| – Vocal critic of China’s economic practices | |
| – Promoter of protectionist trade policies and reshoring manufacturing | |
| Books Authored | – Death by China: Confronting the Dragon (2011) |
| – Crouching Tiger: What China’s Militarism Means for the World (2015) | |
| – In Trump Time: My Journal of America’s Plague Year (2021) | |
| Legal Controversy | – Convicted of contempt of Congress in 2023 for refusing to comply with a subpoena related to the January 6 investigation |
| – Served a four-month prison sentence and fined $9,500 | |
| Awards/Recognition | Known as a key architect of Donald Trump’s trade policies |
| Personal Life | – Married to Leslie LeBon, an architect |
| – The couple resides in Laguna Beach, California |
How tall is Peter Navarro?
Peter Navarro is 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall and weighs approximately 51 kilograms (112 pounds). However, other sources claim he is 6 feet 3 inches (190.5 cm) tall. Given these discrepancies, the exact details of his height and weight remain uncertain.
Who was Peter Navarro’s wife?
Peter Navarro married architect Leslie LeBon in 2001 and resided in Laguna Beach, California.
LeBon, a California-based architect, has a son named Alex from a previous marriage. Navarro became Alex’s stepfather during their marriage. In 2018, LeBon filed for divorce, and their marriage was officially dissolved on December 31, 2020.
As of July 2024, Navarro introduced his fiancée during a speech at the Republican National Convention, indicating he is engaged to be married again. However, specific details about his fiancée and any children from this relationship have not been publicly disclosed.
Peter Navarro: Career Overview
Peter Navarro has had a multifaceted career spanning academia, authorship, and political advising, significantly impacting U.S. trade and economic policy. Below is a detailed look at his career:
1. Academic Career
- Early Academic Roles: Peter Navarro began his career as an academic economist, teaching at several institutions before settling at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He was an emeritus economics and public policy professor at UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business.
- Research Focus: His academic work primarily focused on macroeconomics, trade policies, energy markets, and the economics of infrastructure development.
- Published Works: Navarro authored numerous books and academic papers, including:
- The Policy Game: How Special Interests and Ideologues Are Stealing America (1984)
- If It’s Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks (2001)
- The Coming China Wars (2006)
2. Author and Filmmaker
- Books on China: Navarro gained recognition for his sharp critique of China’s economic practices. His book Death by China (2011) criticized China’s trade policies and industrial practices, and it was later adapted into a documentary film.
- He also wrote Crouching Tiger: What China’s Militarism Means for the World (2015), focusing on China’s growing military influence.
3. Political Career
- Advisor to Donald Trump (2016 Campaign): Navarro became a key economic and trade policy advisor during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Trump credited Navarro’s strong stance on reducing trade deficits and reshoring manufacturing jobs as aligning with his “America First” policies.
- Director of the White House National Trade Council (2017): After Trump’s election, Navarro was appointed inaugural Director of the National Trade Council, advising on trade and manufacturing policies. This council was later merged into the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy.
- Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (2017–2021): Navarro played a key role in shaping Trump’s trade policies, including:
- Imposing tariffs on Chinese goods.
- Renegotiating trade agreements like NAFTA (revised as the USMCA).
- Promoting reshoring of American manufacturing.
Peter Navarro Net Worth
American economist and author Peter Navarro’s estimated net worth, as of 2024, ranges between $5 million and $20 million. This wealth stems from his extensive academic career, authorship, government service, and strategic investments.
Income sources:
Academic Career: Navarro was an economics and public policy professor at the University of California, Irvine, for over two decades. His tenure in academia provided a stable income and established his reputation as an expert in economics.
Authorship: Navarro authored several influential books, notably Death by China and Crouching Tiger, which critique China’s economic and military strategies. The success of these publications contributed significantly to his income through royalties and increased his prominence in economic discourse.
Government Service: Navarro held key positions during the Trump administration, including Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy. These roles came with substantial salaries, further enhancing his financial standing.
Investments: Navarro’s financial portfolio includes strategic investments in real estate and the stock market. His economic expertise likely informed these ventures, contributing to his net worth growth.
Political Controversies
- Contempt of Congress (2023)
Navarro was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena during the January 6 investigation. He served a four-month prison sentence and was fined $9,500. - Return to Trump’s Circle (2024)
In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Navarro as a senior advisor on trade and manufacturing, signaling his return to a high-profile political role.
