For roughly two decades, American policymaking has devoted itself to a strong dollar. That means the federal government seeks to keep the U.S. dollar more valuable than other countries' currencies on the international markets. The practice began in the Clinton administration, and ran through the Bush and Obama White Houses. So observers kind of wigged out in January when President Trump said the dollar is "too strong," suggesting his administration might break with his predecessors. Since then, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has clearly tried to walk things back.