Economist Peter Navarro has been described as "the man who pushed [National Economic Council head] Gary Cohn out of the White House" and Politico has suggested he "could lead us into a global depression — or worse." A relatively minor character before President Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum, Navarro could very well be credited with making those plans a reality.
While the tariffs are in line with what Trump has long touted, Navarro is the "hard-liner who is seen by outsiders as enabling and egging on Trump's most nativist and nationalistic instincts," The Washington Post writes, even as other aides and prominent Republicans have made desperate and unsuccessful counterarguments against going forward with the plan.
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