He likely understands what a tariff is well enough. His problem is that he either doesn’t understand the implications or chooses not to communicate that part to voters.
He understands tariffs in his terms - that “tariffs” is a useful word to trick people into doing what he wants. How tariffs work in the real world is irrelevant to him, the word gets him what he wants, and that’s all he needs from tariffs.
Trump understands tariffs, as far as they sound fancy and like a threat to foreigners, his followers understands it even less. Using fancy words make you sound authoritative. Trump’s followers like authoritarian leaders.
He likely understands what a tariff is well enough. His problem is that he either doesn’t understand the implications or chooses not to communicate that part to voters.
He understands tariffs in his terms - that “tariffs” is a useful word to trick people into doing what he wants. How tariffs work in the real world is irrelevant to him, the word gets him what he wants, and that’s all he needs from tariffs.
Trump understands tariffs, as far as they sound fancy and like a threat to foreigners, his followers understands it even less. Using fancy words make you sound authoritative. Trump’s followers like authoritarian leaders.