The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump: What the Trade War Means for the World
by
Philip Coggan
Published 1 Jul 2025
It is possible that Mr Trump likes tariffs so much as they are easy to impose and they force other nations to beg him for deals. It is an exertion of dominance that Mr Trump, who perceives himself to be an alpha male, enjoys. The trade strategy can therefore be seen as part of a wider attempt to exert American power. It ties in with the president’s clear ‘dictator envy’ which prompts him to show much greater admiration for Vladimir Putin than for the leaders of the US’s traditional allies. Mr Trump has clearly sided with Russia over Ukraine in his attempts to settle the war. It seems that the president sees Russia, like the US, as a great power, and that gives it the right to control countries within its sphere of influence.