US public policy just looks like some old man outraged by whatever he last saw on Twitter.

It might look that way, but a closer look reveals that since the 1980s, Trump has advocated for import tariffs as a tool to regulate trade and retaliate against foreign nations that he believes have taken advantage of Americans.

Tariffs look quick and decisive to some. Others expect costs to regress upon consumers, kicking the can down the road. Politicians who choose tariffs tend to also whinge over global competition. Spending on education, infrastructure and R&D is a better solution. Why isn’t he choosing those?

Sure, in the broad view, he has always advocated for tariffs. Somehow he thinks recreating the McKinley era is the future. He wants to cut taxes for the rich and tariffs are a very regressive tax. But, in this particular instance, revisiting a really dumb idea that flopped a few months ago does seem a little more like 'old man who forgot what he was doing yesterday.'

"Taken advantage of Americans" ... because of movies not made in America?

Or whatever else randomly comes up next week or the week after?

Even his own cabinet members fail to struggle to explain his policies when asked and don't seem to be on the same page sometimes.

Remember: Bannon’s achievement was the 3/day pace of stories to distract the media.

Great, Trump hasn't educated himself on economics in almost 40 years.

Beyond that, he's abusing the office of the president's "economic emergency" power to do this. Lobby and advocate all you want, as a billionaire he had lots of lobbying power. But declaring a fake emergency to do your own thing is highly unamerican, and we shouldn't forget that.

Yes, actually this rhetoric started immediately after his return from a very questionable trip to Russia.

... I mean, yes. That is because that is what it _is_.