Trump seems to think the trade deficit is some sort of debt that we’ll have to pay off in the future.

The overall goal of bringing manufacturing back to the US isn’t necessarily a bad one, but this is probably the worst way to go about doing it. One article I read pointed out that it would take many years of consistent tariffs to generate that kind of interest and investment - but anyone with half a brain knows these tariffs could be gone tomorrow, so there’s little inclination to actually try to build factories in the US based on this move. No reasonable investor would want to bet their company on Trump acting consistently.

I doubt it’s a blackmail thing, because at this point, not one of Trump’s supporters would give a damn if it was clearly proven that Trump personally took CP pictures.

I think Putin just whispers sweet nothings into Trump’s ear and controls him that way.