Opinion: Discredited Trump Adviser Navarro Attacks Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s Credibility

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | Special to California Black Media Partners
September 1, 2025

Last week, Peter Navarro, a senior counselor in Donald Trump’s administration, called Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook a “DEI hire” and a partisan “animal.”

This op-ed is in response to that comment.

Navarro’s remark fits into a well-documented pattern in which Trump and his spokespeople have questioned the legitimacy of accomplished Black leaders. Remarks like this warrant scrutiny, especially when they come from an administration that has often valued loyalty over expertise in its inner circle.

Cook’s Record vs. Navarro’s
Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook is far more than a diversity hire. She earned a Ph.D. in economics from UC Berkeley, taught at Harvard, Stanford, and Michigan State, and produced widely cited research on innovation and economic growth. Hundreds of economists, including Nobel laureates, supported her Federal Reserve Board confirmation.

Navarro’s record is different. While he obtained a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard, he has been criticized by mainstream economists as proposing policies running counter to established economic thinking. He’s admitted to fabricating sources in his books, and his trade policies during Trump’s first term were widely reported to have raised costs for farmers and consumers through retaliatory tariffs. In 2023, he was convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena and served a four-month prison sentence. Despite that record, he now advises Trump on trade and manufacturing policy.

Why Cook Is Targeted
Cook made history as the first Black woman to serve on the Board. Her appointment followed a rigorous process: nominated by President Joe Biden in January 2022 and confirmed by the Senate in May 2022 — her 14-year term secured through a 50-50 Senate vote broken by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Federal Reserve Governors are appointed to long terms to insulate them from politics. Yet on Aug. 25, Trump announced her firing, citing unproven mortgage fraud allegations dating to 2021– before she even joined the Fed.

Cook responded by filing a lawsuit seeking a restraining order. Her suit argues Trump lacked legal authority to remove her “for cause,” that the allegations are unsubstantiated and predate her appointment, and that she was denied due process under the Federal Reserve Act. If successful, Trump would be the first president ever to fire a sitting Fed governor in the institution’s 112-year history.

A Documented Pattern
This isn’t an isolated incident. Trump has a history of questioning the legitimacy of Black leaders. He promoted the false “birther” conspiracy against President Barack Obama. He called Congressman John Lewis “all talk, no action.” He mocked Vice President Kamala Harris as a “DEI hire” and questioned her intelligence. He once demanded the execution of the Central Park Five — teenagers later exonerated.

Each example follows the same approach: whether targeting prominent Black leaders or vulnerable Black and Latino youth, Trump has sought to undermine their legitimacy and cast doubt on their worth.

Why It Matters
Navarro’s attack on Cook must be seen in this context. Her appointment is historic and reflects progress in institutions that have traditionally excluded Black and other minority representation or perspectives.

Research shows that Black women in leadership often face a credibility gap. Fifty-five percent report having their judgment questioned at work, compared with 39% of women overall and 28% of men. 49% of Black women in corporate settings believe their race or ethnicity makes it harder to get raises or promotions, compared with just 3% of White women.

Cook is carrying out her responsibilities with the independence expected of a Federal Reserve Board member. Her confirmation was the result of thorough Senate vetting. Her decision not to resign and file a lawsuit is grounded in law, not politics.

The Bigger Picture
Trump’s move to oust Cook and Navarro’s attempt to discredit her are not just attacks on one individual. They reflect a governing style that prizes loyalty over competence and qualifications. Time and again, Trump has surrounded himself with advisers whose chief credential is their willingness to echo him, not for their record of independent accomplishment.

Cook represents the opposite: independence, expertise, and a commitment to sound policy. That is what the Federal Reserve requires — and what Trump and Navarro find threatening.

Given Navarro’s record — fabricated scholarship, failed policy, and a criminal conviction — his attempt to discredit Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook only underscores the lack of credibility in Trump’s inner circle, where loyalty has replaced competence.

About the Author
Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.

Note: The information, views, and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author They do not purport to reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of California Black Media its affiliates, employees, or representatives.