Trump's desire for control is a consistent theme in his politics, using tariffs as leverage in foreign policy, especially given America's economic power.

Trump's governing philosophy reflects a desire for more power, akin to leaders in countries like Russia and China, which he openly admires.

Trump uses tariffs as a form of executive control, which he can implement unilaterally, unlike trade deals that require negotiation and ratification with Congress.

The economic approach of the Trump Administration focuses on less regulation, more reliance on US energy, and boosting productivity through American manufacturing.

Democrats often optimize for avoiding negative attention, while the Trumpist wing of the Republican Party understands that a volume of attention, even if negative, is beneficial for gaining agenda control.

The tariffs can be used to address various issues, such as manufacturing loss or immigration policies, demonstrating Trump's leverage over local leaders like Eric Adams.

The Democrats have shifted from being the big tent party to isolating anyone who disagrees, while Trump's Republican party has become more inclusive.

Trump's approach to tariffs is a stable change in the cost structure for corporations and trade, allowing different players to make long-term investment decisions based on this new structure.

The mechanism of social change involves a leader articulating what the majority believes but is unwilling to say out loud, which can shift the political landscape, as seen with Trump taking over the Republican Party.