First, if. Further, these tariffs are not "reciprocal." His formula includes trade deficits and other metrics which have nothing to do with his purported unfairness, and the inflationary fiat money system we have had since the collapse of Bretton Woods and the vestiges of the gold standard all but require money to flow out as other countries absorb some of the fiat as it gets churned out. Ending that process will likely mean even more price inflation as the consequences of money supply inflation hits harder at home. Nothing I have seen suggests Trump really understands any core economics, and just believes he can push everyone around to make magic happen. I won't be sad if it works out, but I have string doubts to say the least.

Second, other nations choosing self-destructive tariffs do not require us to join that policy any more than their socialized medicine requires us to do the same.

As for the tangent, I guarantee if my pessimistic predictions about Trump come true, the left and the mass media will call it more proof of "late-stage capitalism" and "market failure" because that is their only answer when things go wrong. Well, that and "reactionaries" if they have power and things go wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if the swamp wants such an outcome.