I’m highlighting the absurdity the a bunch of tanks that had supposedly just got finished squishing hundreds of protesters and were then leaving the square

Nobody said that? The tank man incident occurs the following day and is a sign of rebellion against a tyrannical government. Nobody except the uneducated believes both events took place on the same day. Tank man is so powerful because despite the government slaughtering people the day previously. Standing in front of the tank was extremely brave and probably even a little stupid but powerful nonetheless.