I've had maga family tell at me that the other nation pays tariffs despite all evidence to the contrary. To answer your question, no they don't know how it works.

punching yourself in the face and then saying you got beat up.

punching yourself in the face and then saying "there! that will teach them!"

ftfy

Oh indeed, and on top of the man's own innate mental problems, he was also warped by Roy Cohen and Norman Vincent Peale. From the former he learned to never apologize, never admit to losing, never admit to being wrong, and always attack every critic; from the latter he learned to believe that he cannot fail, and in fact that God himself will ensure his victory. He is a perfect storm of narcissism.