On April 9, amid market instability, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attempted to convince President Trump to reduce tariffs while trade adviser Peter Navarro was preoccupied in another meeting. They seized a fleeting opportunity to propose a pause on tariffs without Navarro's opposition. Trump ultimately agreed, announcing a partial rollback, which surprised Navarro. While Navarro countered the claims as attempts to provoke division, the White House maintained that Trump's trade team was united in executing the America First agenda.
Despite the chaos surrounding the tariffs, the report highlights how two officials strategically confronted Trump while key adviser Peter Navarro was absent from the Oval Office.
Trade adviser Peter Navarro was a staunch advocate of maintaining tariffs and was notably not present during the crucial meeting where a potential rollback was discussed.
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