As Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook challenges President Donald Trump’s push to fire her for alleged mortgage fraud, a top Trump official is offering her advice.
Appearing on “Sunday Morning Futures” with guest host Jackie DeAngelis on the Fox News Channel, Peter Navarro, the White House senior counsel for Trade and Manufacturing, said: “What I think Lisa Cook needs to do is get up and explain to the American people what she did.
“Is there a reason that’s legitimate for what seems like the worst kind of home fraud?”
Peter Navarro: I went to prison. Democrats put me in prison for defending the Constitution… I went to prison so you don’t have to.
Peter Navarro went to prison for his refusal to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Select Committee investigating the J6 Capitol attack pic.twitter.com/jZaX8IITmw
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) August 31, 2025
DeAngelis agreed, saying, “I think the American people would love to hear it if she would stand up and explain that to us.”
Navarro explained: “With respect to the president’s ability to fire [Cook], of course he does.”
“Here we’ve got a a case of what appears to be apparent malfeasance. This is not a slap-on-the-wrist thing.”
“I went to prison, Democrats put me in prison for defending the Constitution. And I was there , there were a couple of guys there who had similar kind of bank-loan fraud. They were there for years. They had their assets forfeited and they had burdensome restitution.”
Navarro discussed his opinion piece in the Federalist, in which he said Trump is perfectly right in firing Cook “for cause.”
“Cook’s ’cause’ is alleged malfeasance tied to her mortgage paperwork. According to public reporting, in June 2021, Cook obtained a $203,000 mortgage in Michigan. Just two weeks later, in July 2021, she signed for a $540,000 mortgage in Georgia.
Each loan reportedly included a primary-residence occupancy clause requiring her to move in within 60 days and remain for at least one year unless the lender consented. If, as alleged, both applications represented those properties as ‘primary residences,’ two homes in two states two weeks apart creates an irreconcilable timeline absent lender consent. Those facts remain subject to litigation, but they are sufficient to test integrity and meet a for-cause threshold pending judicial review.”
“Cook’s firing is not about her incompetence and partisan weaponization of Fed policy — ’cause’ though her incompetence well might be. Nor is Cook’s firing an attack on the Fed’s independence.
“Cook’s firing is about the paperwork: two mortgages, two states, two weeks apart, both allegedly marked as a ‘primary residence.’ On the face of such alleged malfeasance, cause exists, and that is enough for a president to act while the courts resolve the rest.
“The lesson is simple: In public service, integrity is judged in real time, not deferred until a jury renders a verdict.”
On another critical issue, Navarro says White House officials “feel very optimistic” about overturning an appeals court decision that said Trump’s sweeping tariffs are unconstitutional.
“If we lose the case, President Trump is right. It will be the end of the United States,” Navarro warned.
.@RealPNavarro on tariffs: “Is there a national emergency? Of course. People are dying of fentanyl and the trade deficit is absolutely devastating to this country.” pic.twitter.com/GINkpOZGc6
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 31, 2025
On Friday, Trump himself said of the tariff ruling: “A Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end.
“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong. The U.S.A. will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else.
“If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America. At the start of this Labor Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products.
“For many years, Tariffs were allowed to be used against us by our uncaring and unwise Politicians. Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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