Critically, neither country made concessions to Trump on Monday regarding their trade balance — a condition Trump laid out as a requirement in order to prevent the 25 percent tariff from going into effect.  “They have to balance out their trade, No. 1,” the president said Sunday. Trump has long touted tariffs as a way to prevent other nations from ripping America off economically, but this didn’t seem to be an issue on Monday.

Republicans and the Trump administration have long touted Trump as an expert dealmaker, capable of giving his adversaries the runaround with little effort. In light of the brief trade dispute, conservative media hailed Trump as a conquering victor over America’s North American neighbors. “Canada is bending the knee, just like Mexico,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) struggled to defend Trump’s deal with Canada and Mexico as a win for the president during an interview on CNN later in the day.

“Is there a tangible concession in your view?” host Kaitlan Collins asked.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Davidson replied, noting the supposed “commitment from Trudeau that wasn’t there to help with fentanyl.”

Collins pointed out that that plan had actually been announced “six weeks ago.”

“Well, at least he’s reiterated it,” Davidson demured.

The tactic by Trump is obvious: work nations and investors into a frenzy over a potential trade dispute that would actively harm Americans, only to swoop in at the last moment and cast himself as a master negotiator and savior of the populace.