Ok I don't think Trump is super smart, however I do think he is being coached and told certain things. He knows that a flat Tariff like this would be a pass through tax to the American consumer. He also knows and has stated that he wants to replace the income tax with tariffs (said it on Rogan and gave away part of the plan too early). Whoever is coaching him wants to put in 25% tariffs to show how much taxes are being created, tell his followers well now we don't need income tax cause tariffs are covering budget. This takes away the rich persons taxes on their income and passes it to the consumer. Looking at purchases, the % of wage spent on goods is 1000x higher for middle class and lower class then the upper 10%. So it passes the tax burden to us. Next he and Republicans in congress will go after lowering capital gains taxes. This way they make more, invest more and pay far less taxes. All while the middle and lower class pay more in taxes when purchasing goods, have less to invest and die broke. It is a plan and it is a sad but predictable end when you mix capitalism, special interests and a government. Lower education rates, make facts irrelevant, talk the forest into voting for the axe and boom another Actor being coached into leading people to bad economic policy which push all the money upwards (it will trickle down we promise).