The strategy he’s following is to throw bones to his base and make the people of the country pick up the tab. If you’re applying an economic lens here, you’re solving the wrong problem.
https://smile.amazon.com/Dictators-Handbook-Behavior-Almost-...
https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Geniuses-Revolution-Isaacs...
The Rules for Rulers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStL7niR7gs
Protectionism rhetoric is a sugar-coat for Americans who will have to foot the bill by paying more for imported goods, but honestly, who else should?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Balance_of_trade