Trump Adviser Peter Navarro and His Fictional Economics Expert ‘Ron Vara’ Are the Same Person
Ron Vara, the so-called economics expert often cited by Peter Navarro to justify his strong pro-tariff stance, is not a real person. In fact, he’s a fictional character created by Navarro himself.
Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to former President Donald Trump, was seen beside Trump in the Oval Office on February 13, 2025, as Trump signed executive orders regarding reciprocal tariffs. While Trump’s inner circle has defended his trade policies, growing criticism has emerged — not only from Democrats and international leaders but also from within his own Republican Party.
On her MSNBC show, Rachel Maddow mocked the credibility of the trade policy origins, arguing that Trump’s tariff strategy partly stemmed from a fabricated memo attributed to a non-existent individual with a fake email address. According to Maddow, this memo originated from Navarro, who first joined Trump’s team after Jared Kushner came across his book Death by China during the 2016 campaign.
Maddow highlighted that Navarro repeatedly referenced Ron Vara in his publications. After Trump took office, a memo from “Vara” began circulating in Washington, claiming Trump could “ride the tariffs to victory.” But the twist? Ron Vara doesn’t exist. He’s entirely fictional — a made-up persona Navarro created and frequently quoted in his books as an authority on trade and economics.
Adding another layer to the story, Maddow noted that “Ron Vara” is actually an anagram of “Navarro,” further suggesting the intentional nature of the ruse.
Navarro, who became Trump’s trade and manufacturing adviser in January 2025, had already gained a reputation in Washington for his aggressive stance on China. He played a pivotal role in shaping Trump’s tough trade measures, particularly during the U.S.-China trade war.
Out of Navarro’s 13 books, Ron Vara appears in five, including the 2011 book Death by China, where he warns about the dangers of Chinese imports. In one quote, Vara ominously claims, “Only the Chinese can turn a leather sofa into an acid bath, a baby crib into a lethal weapon, and a cellphone battery into heart-piercing shrapnel,” as reported by NPR.
The truth behind Ron Vara was uncovered in 2019, when it was revealed that Navarro had invented the character. The publisher of his book later announced plans to include a disclaimer in future editions. Navarro admitted to the fabrication, describing Vara as a “whimsical device” and claiming the character wasn’t intended to mislead readers, but rather to add a playful element.
Interestingly, Navarro had portrayed Vara as a Harvard PhD, just like himself — yet Harvard has no record of anyone by that name. Greg Autry, co-author of Death by China, confirmed that Vara was Navarro’s creation.
Navarro later commented that he found it amusing someone had finally caught onto the “inside joke.” The revelation drew comparisons to Donald Trump’s own past behavior — in the 1980s, Trump invented a fictional spokesperson named “John Barron” to speak to the press on his behalf. The internet quickly jumped on the irony, joking that Barron could give media tips to Navarro’s made-up character, Ron Vara.
