Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has been leading the charge inside the West Wing that Victoria Coates is the author of the book "Anonymous," according to three people familiar with the situation.

Once the unsubstantiated rumor began circulating inside the West Wing, the book's publishers denied Coates was the author, but their denial did little to stop Navarro from continuing to insist it was her, two people said.

For the last several weeks, Navarro has been on a hunt to determine who is Anonymous, two people said, a move that would likely ingratiate him with the President.

Navarro confirmed Friday he's searching for Anonymous, but when pressed specifically on CNN's "New Day" whether he believes Coates is the author, he avoided the question.

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