Do your children love playing with toys, particularly dolls? Well, brace yourselves, as President Donald Trump recently suggested that soon, families may find themselves able to afford far fewer toys than before, and he believes this outcome is something to celebrate.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Trump engaged in a wide-ranging discussion with his team, touching upon topics as varied as his own achievements and even the comedic value of wearing two hats. However, a significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the ongoing tariffs imposed on China, which have skyrocketed to an astounding 145%. These tariffs are beginning to impact consumers who frequently shop on popular online platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress.

In a surprising admission, Trump acknowledged that American consumers might soon face a diminished selection of products in stores. He vividly illustrated this potential future with a rather stark hypothetical scenario: Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally, he stated. This remark has left many scratching their heads, as it raises serious implications for the purchasing power of American families.

Trump's comments drew criticism and concern from various economic experts. Notably, University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers appeared on MSNBC, where he elaborated on the potential ramifications of Trump's proposed scenario. Wolfers explained that the concept of real incomeessentially, the purchasing power of an individuals earningsplays a crucial role in the economy. He warned that if real income decreases significantly, it could signal a recession. In the extreme case where consumers can only afford two dolls instead of thirty, the economy could plunge into a depression.

Reactions to Trumps remarks have been mixed, with many finding humor in the absurdity of the situation. As CNBCs Carl Quintanilla noted on Bluesky, The doll thing is visual, memorable and highly specific. Hes going to wish he could take that one back. It seems that Trumps phrasing may come back to haunt him. Meanwhile, social media users have been quick to create memes poking fun at the president's statements regarding dolls and consumer goods.

Among the humorous takes circulating online, one user quipped, Maybe the children will have 2 dolls instead of 30 and maybe the dolls will cost a couple bucks more. Another added, A chicken in every pot; a car in every garage; and two dolls from The Stephen Miller Collection staring from the bookshelf in your daughters bedroom. Clearly, many Americans are using humor to cope with the serious implications of these tariffs.

The situation appears to be dire for consumers, as the summer ahead could become particularly challenging if Trumps tariffs on China remain in place. Even if the tariffs were lifted immediately, which seems unlikely given Trumps stance, the chaos and disruptions already in the supply chains would persist. Gary Cohn, who served as an economic advisor during Trumps first term, shed light on the situation during an appearance on Face the Nation. Cohn explained that it typically takes around eight weeks for goods shipped from China to arrive on U.S. store shelves. With Trumps self-proclaimed Liberation Day declared on April 2, the impact of the tariffs may only be starting to hit consumers.

Cohn warned, The vast majority of small business toy stores cannot order toys today because they cannot afford the 145% tariff. Theyre either going out of business or theyre just going to wait and see what happens. This commentary underscores the serious economic ramifications that could arise from the current tariff policies.

As the dust settles, Americans must brace themselves for the reality of Trumps economic decisions. It remains to be seen just how significant the decline in living standards will be and what that will mean for families across the nation, dolls or otherwise.