Former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he holds a news conference at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Unreal Targets and Real Consequences

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO — Donald Trump’s latest economic move — a sweeping set of global tariffs dubbed “Liberation Day” — is being called everything from erratic to economically catastrophic.

Among the bizarre highlights: a reported 10% tariff on goods originating from an uninhabited Antarctic island, which has baffled economists, world leaders, and the Internet alike.

As much as Donald Trump complains about being the butt of the late night talk show hosts, it almost seems like he thrives on the attention, and maybe even does these ridiculous things just to be able to engage in a late night social media rant.

But beneath the absurdity lies a far graver concern: whether these moves reflect a deeper disconnect from economic reality and competent leadership.

Markets responded with sheer panic, …