Commentary by Hugh Hansen

Speculating as we do about Trump's motivations and decision-making (I won't call it a "process"), the mess he's made of tariffs and related policy (which I think Mr. Macaulay described accurately and well) shouldn't come as a surprise. It has an us vs. them theme which seems popular with his base; it assumes easy winner and loser labels for he who imposes the tariffs and all those who must submit to them; it involves large numbers of dollars moving in commerce, which he likes to pretend he understands.

It must have felt pleasantly like deciding to fire people on The Apprentice.

Hansen is contributing pundit for The Hustings.

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