The part that gets me is this fantasy that China is supposed to say thank you because Trump picked a tariff fight and called it strategy. That’s not how major powers work. Beijing isn’t sitting there waiting to send a fruit basket because US consumers paid more and manufacturers got whiplash. I’m not anti tariff on principle. If China is dumping goods or gaming trade rules, hit back in a targeted way and build a case with allies. But this personal drama stuff, the "good friends" angle, like geopolitics is two guys hashing it out over steak, is childish. We need a trade policy that protects US industry without pretending Xi owes us gratitude. Respect isn’t gratitude, and leverage isn’t friendship.