In Pew's poll, Trump's current job approval rating stands at 38 percent, with 60 percent of U.S. adults expressing disapproval of his performance. That is a modest decline from two months ago, when 41 percent approved. In January, his approval rating stood at 47 percent.

“Tariffs are making our Country Strong and Rich,” Mr Trump crowed on social media on August 11th. They also, however, guarantee that America will become steadily less important to its trading partners. That is one predictable consequence of an unpredictable presidency. ■