Trump has an infantile view of the economy. He seems to think that a trade deficit means the US is losing money, as if it was a business. If he can manufacturer a trade surplus then then he can do away with taxes.
He also seems to believe that tariffs are paid by the foreign countries, not American consumers. It is unfathomable that people voted for this idiot.
Even among the folks who really do want to "run government like a business", the kinds of businesses they usually admire--large, publicly traded, with a CEO beholden to sharehodlers--are utterly different from the kind that Trump has inherited from his father.
Only kind of government Trump's business experience has prepared him for is running North Korea: A lifetime CEO on top who can't be removed, the ability to fire anybody on a whim, and sneaky power struggles between the kids for who will inherit when the old man finally strokes out.
... He's going to do a lot of damage to America trying to twist it into working that way.
He also seems to believe that tariffs are paid by the foreign countries, not American consumers. It is unfathomable that people voted for this idiot.