I don't think Americans buy European things because they're cost competitive. Most European goods already have cheaper American equivalents. Pushing prices up will just hurt Americans who want European stuff, but they'll continue to buy at the higher price. If anything it'll benefit Europe, because the price won't be going back to what it was when the tariff is eventually removed.

Does anyone else feel like this is an attempt at a poisoned chalice?

If the opposition does well in the mid-terms they have an utter shitshow to clean up, but if that doesn’t happen they get to pull out their own splinter and claim a victory.

I’m really hopeful the rest of the world continues to strengthen trade and cooperation in the absence of US leadership and stability.