Let’s turn to the international stage. An independent-minded foreign government, however determined an adversary or stalwart an ally, invites tariffs. The ally that dares to criticize a policy, to vote against a resolution, or to pursue an independent foreign policy finds itself the target of economic sanctions. The adversary that challenges American dominance, that seeks to expand its own sphere of influence, finds itself subject to a volley of economic attacks. The message is a simple one, delivered with the blunt force of economic power: align with me, or face the consequences.

This is not diplomacy; it is a form of economic coercion, a tool of punishment wielded against nations. The Tax Foundation has documented the use of tariffs against both allies and adversaries, with rates sometimes reaching as high as 50 per cent on certain countries like India for buying Russian oil. Beyond the specific punishments, there is the ever-present threat of a hail of insults, a lesson in public humiliation to potential transgressors. The tweets, the rally speeches, the press conferences ~ they all serve as a public record of who has crossed Trump and what they have received in return.

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The names are not forgotten, the slights are not forgiven, and the public shaming is a warning to others. This is a form of political theatre designed to reinforce a single, unyielding truth: loyalty is the only currency that matters, and disloyalty will be met with public scorn and private ruin. In the........

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