In another era, a conviction for contempt of Congress would have been enough to end a political career. But in 2025, it earns you a promotion. Peter Navarro, recently released from a federal prison after defying a lawful subpoena, now serves once again as a senior counselor in Donald Trump’s White House. His title is new, but his purpose remains the same: to wage economic war on America’s behalf, regardless of the truth, the law, or the consequences.
Navarro has always seen himself as the blunt instrument in Trump’s economic toolkit—a hammer in search of foreign nails, especially if they’re stamped “Made in China.” His fixation on tariffs and “fair trade” has been dressed in academic credentials, but often unaccompanied by academic rigor. He invented a fictional source—Ron Vara—to bolster his arguments. He pushed unproven COVID treatments in the middle of a global emergency. He helped engineer the “Green Bay Sweep,” an effort to overturn a democratic election.
And still, here he is. Back in the White House.
That’s not resilience. That’s rot.
Navarro’s appointment is not about expertise. It’s about allegiance. He is being rewarded for his loyalty, not his legitimacy. He stood by the former president through scandal, insurrection, and indictment. He refused to testify. He went to jail for it. And in this White House, that’s not a liability—it’s a credential.
This is what we excuse now.
We excuse contempt—not just of Congress, but of fact, of accountability, of the basic civic contract that says public service is a responsibility, not a shield. We excuse manufactured narratives, disinformation campaigns, and policy built on grievance rather than data. We excuse lawbreaking if it’s done in the name of “America First,” even when the real target is the rule of law itself.
Navarro isn’t alone in this. He’s simply the most visible embodiment of a deeper problem: the consolidation of power by those who believe the ends justify the means, and who no longer pretend otherwise. Project 2025 isn’t just a framework. It’s a field test. And Peter Navarro, with his prison record and platform, is proof that it’s already underway.
Langston Hayes writes not to offer comfort, but clarity. This moment demands both. Because if we don’t name what we’re witnessing, we’re already complicit in forgetting it.
