If you look at those tariffs from the PoV of economic and external policies, they sound a lot like “I’ll shit myself so others will need to smell it”. They’re a bit harmful to other countries, sure, as each lost one reliable trading partner; USA, though, lost all of them.

And yes, all of them. Even governments and businesses from countries not deeply affected by the tariffs are seeing USA as a high risk partner, looking for alternatives, and at least my country (Brazil) is deepening ties with China.

But I digress. I think that what’s going on is about USA’s internal policy; if you put it side-to-side with other things like

• forcing businesses to call the Gulf of Mexico by some esoteric name;
• harassing universities;
• removing government staff based on political allegiance; etc.

then you realise that it’s all about loyalty towards Trump himself and his agenda. This taco-haired clown is trying to keep himself and his buds in power forever there, and for that he needs support.

“I’ll shit myself so others will need to smell it”

That’s incredibly on-brand for Trump in so many ways.