Did Trumps Trade Adviser Create A Fake Expert For His Books?

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-29 13:04:22 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-29 15:11:42

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Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro frequently quoted an expert called Ron Vara in his writings on trade policy. The problem: Vara apparently doesn't exist, citing a lack of a credible matching identity and a pattern of unusual citation practices in Navarro's writings that raise concerns about academic misconduct.

Navarro, who served as Director of the White House National Trade Council and has been outspoken in his protectionist views, wrote or co-wrote several books on trade and economic policy. These include _Death by China_: _Confronting the Dragon_ (2011) and _Crouching Tiger_: _Protecting American Jobs & Prosperity_ _From Chinese Sex_ _ual_ _Espionage_ (2015).

He variously cited "Ron Vara" as an expert on topics including exchange rates, trade policy, and currency manipulation. But a report by the Center for American Progress found that there is no such person as Vara. They searched for economists with the name "Ron Vara" who had specialized knowledge of exchange rates and trade policy and found nothing. Furthermore, the few public records that exist for Vara are linked to other people with different professions.

This mysterious citation practice appears to be part of a larger pattern of questionable quoting practices in Navarro's writing. According to the CAP analysis, many of the sources quoted directly in Navarro's books fail to adequately cite their sources in peer-reviewed literature on the topics quoted. The citation practices are unusual compared to peer-reviewed books and journals in the field. Given these concerns, CAP has called for an investigation into academic misconduct related to the writings of Navarro.

This revelation, if confirmed, could cast doubt on not just Navarro's reporting practices but also the validity of his protectionist policies and viewpoints. It may also lead to questions about the substance of Trump's trade war with China and the allegedly treacherous nature of the relationship.

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