We at the Hotline are, of course, in favor of free trade. That being said, Trump’s threats of tariffs often had success in forcing other countries to do what is in American interests. One example of this tactic was when Trump threatened tariffs on European countries if they didn’t meet their NATO obligations. They paid up.

Another is when Mexico was not helping control the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump threatened Mexico City with “severe tariffs” and, sure enough, Mexico started cooperating. The chart below shows the policy — since abandoned by “open-borders” Joe — immediately paid off with large reductions in illegal crossings.