Matt Gagnon clarified his stance on tariffs, emphasizing his support for free trade and opposition to tariffs as economically destructive. He differentiated between his opposition to tariffs as economic policy and his support for strategic tariff brinksmanship to exert leverage on other countries, particularly for addressing social issues like immigration and drug smuggling. Gagnon cited Peter Navarro’s statements, indicating the Trump administration’s focus on reducing trade deficits rather than achieving better trade deals. Callers discussed the implications of tariffs on fair trade, energy costs, and the misrepresentation of VAT (Value Added Tax) as a tariff.