Tariffs are not a tantrum. They are leverage, deliberately applied to force respect at the table. Negotiation 101: you don’t win by asking nicely—you win by making it costly to say no. The media can’t grasp this because they’ve never closed a deal that mattered. Fair trade is earned through pressure, timing, and the walk-away threat. Global competitors exploit our open-door policies while shielding their own markets. Enough. Strategic tariffs reframe the conversation—turning “take it or leave it” into “let’s talk.” This isn’t about isolation; it’s about insisting on terms that benefit U.S. workers and industries.