And industry certainly didn’t have to. Whilst Trump is wrong about the effects of trade deficit, he wasn’t wrong about it posing problems for US. Trade deficit isn’t a bad thing, because if done wisely import is essentially foreign investment in domestic production.

The fact that US manufacturers struggle is another way Trump represents the US: the US personified is a horrible short-sighted businessman that can’t get ahead with decades of a head start and endless investment pouring in.