The realpolitik of Trump’s tariffs

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world

T-day — or Tariff Day — is coming this week. Or not. We simply won’t know until it’s here, given that President Donald Trump changes his mind about policy daily. But assuming reciprocal tariffs do go into effect, it’s worth thinking about them as Trump himself probably does. 

Economists might fret about their inflationary effects, but Trump isn’t motivated by…