American Evangelicism is just fascism with wrapping paper and a bow. Their beliefs stand in stark constant to what Jesus actually taught, and they pick, choose, and misinterpret the Bible to support their pre-existing beliefs while discarding the rest. They lie to themselves and each other and speak in coded language. Since their outward appearance is simply a veneer covering their true beliefs, when Trump came along and started saying everything they felt, and doing the hideous actions they all want to do, it didn’t matter that he doesn’t hide behind a veneer or speak in coded language. He is a perfect reflection of who they truly are, and as a result they see him as a prophet or even Messiah.
It’s because the American Evangelicals are not, and have never been, who they claim to be. They’re hideous, hateful, selfish people that somewhere deep down knew they needed a cover for their horrendous nature.
When he says the economy is doing well, it’s when he personally is doing well. And when he says the economy stinks, it’s when he personally is losing money or about to be tossed in the clink.
The grift is going well for him right now, so by his terms, the economy is going gangbusters. He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself.
His tariff announcements are simply an opportunity for him to sell high and but low (plus an opportunity to extract personal contributions from the countries that play ball with him).