Trump's first term was seen as a "success" economically, until Covid hit. Never mind that it was basically the same as what Obama left him, it was still "good". I still believe he would have been reelected had he not ****ed up Covid.
He had the chance to do it all over again. At the end of last year, America's economy was seen as the best in the world. He could have just played golf and kept the status quo, maybe focused on the border stuff except not be so nasty (guys in face masks pulling people off the street, sending innocent people to Cecot)) as he has been been.
But no, he wants full on authority, and he wants his tariffs. He's loved the idea of tariffs all of his life, now he's running roughshod with them. He likely failed his econ courses in college, probably never went to class.
Not sure at this point what he's really doing with them. I know he believes they will help balance trade but they won't. Even if they did, so what? Is us buying less from them to bring trade back in balance really all that great of a thing?
Here's another problem with using tariffs as income. You will lower the demand for foreign goods because people will stop buying some items. New heat pump? Nah, I'll make this old one work. New phone? Too high, this one works. Upgrade your computer? Nah, this works well enough.
Less goods coming in, less money from tariffs.
It's self defeating in many ways.
