President Trump has a message for the children living in the United States: prepare to sacrifice in the name of your country.
He was responding to questions at the end of one of his cabinet meeting marathons when he finally admitted that, yes, his tariff policies and the trade war he unleashed with China may soon result in emptier-than-normal shelves in stores. Specifically, in toy stores.
“You know, someone said: ‘Oh, the shelves are going to be empty,’” said Trump. “Well, maybe the kids will have two dolls instead of 30, you know? And maybe those two dolls will cost a few dollars more than they normally would.”
That’s right, the billionaire cryptocurrency negotiator, golf club operator, president of a Palm Beach club, and owner of a gold-decorated office and triplex right on Fifth Avenue—along with the other billionaires with whom he packed his cabinet—told American boys and girls that they will have to make do with fewer toys this year, for the greater good of the country.
Many American toy manufacturers and retailers have started suspending their orders as the effects of Trump’s tariffs spread, threatening to paralyze supply chains. All of this could have a major impact, especially on this year’s holiday season, since many products take months to be manufactured, packaged, and shipped to the United States.
Greg Ahearn, executive director of the Toy Association, an American industry group representing 850 toy manufacturers, told The New York Times that there is now a “frozen supply chain putting Christmas at risk.”
“If we don’t start production soon,” said Mr. Ahearn, “there’s a high probability of a toy shortage this holiday season.”
You heard that, kids?
Source: The New York Times