Trump Claims Fewer Toys for American Kids, But Predicts Greater Impact on China

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that his tariff policies might lead to higher prices and reduced availability of goods for Americans, particularly affecting children. “Kids might end up with two dolls instead of 30, and they'll cost a bit more,” he remarked, while emphasizing that China would suffer more significantly from this new phase of his trade war.

These comments were made amid a concerning economic landscape, as the U.S. Commerce Department reported a 0.3% contraction in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter, raising fears of a possible recession. Trump, however, downplayed these concerns, blaming former President Joe Biden for the negative market reactions and defending tariffs as a means to “regain control” and attract new investments.

During a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump stated that the tariffs on China, which have now reached 145%, were causing a collapse in Chinese factories, asserting that the United States didn't need to import goods. “Our shelves won't be empty, there will just be less variety,” he minimized the impact on the average consumer.

Simultaneously, the president took to social media to distance himself from the poor stock market performance, tweeting, “This is Biden's market, not Trump's.” He assured that “tariffs will start to take effect soon” and more companies were relocating operations to the U.S., which he claimed would drive the economic “boom” he promised for his second term.

However, figures and context contradict his optimism. Analysts point out that consumer growth in the U.S. during the first quarter was partly due to efforts to advance purchases before tariffs make imported goods more expensive. Industrial sectors also worry that rising costs of parts and components could hinder local production, with the U.S. still heavily reliant on global supply chains.

Democrats and experts were quick to respond. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, a Democrat from Washington, accused Trump of pursuing “reckless policies” that are already yielding negative effects. “Chaos and dysfunction will not attract investment. A strong economy requires stability and certainty. We're not seeing that,” she stated.

Others noted that many investments Trump claims credit for, such as TSMC's (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) in Arizona, were made possible through programs initiated during Biden's administration, like the CHIPS and Science Act, which injected over $6 billion into the sector.

Yet, Trump insisted: “They're building because of the tariffs.” In an evening interview on NewsNation, Trump declared he had no regrets about his decisions in his first 100 days in office. “I think I can convince people of how good this is,” he said regarding his trade policy.

Economist Heather Boushey, a former White House advisor under Biden, was blunt: “In just 100 days, Trump has taken the U.S. economy from stable growth to negative GDP. This downturn is directly due to his incoherent economic policies.” Nonetheless, Trump recently stated: “My entire economic agenda is aimed at making it easier to do business in America, create jobs, hire American workers, and build factories here in the U.S., not in China or anywhere else.”

Trade relations between China and the United States are entering a new phase of tension and confusion. While President Donald Trump recently claimed that both nations are engaged in active negotiations to lower the high tariffs imposed on each other, Beijing firmly denies any ongoing discussions.

In April, the Chinese government responded strongly to the new tariff escalation announced by President Trump, intensifying the trade conflict between the world's two largest economies. As reported by CNN in Spanish, China's Ministry of Commerce declared in an official statement, “The U.S. threat to increase tariffs on China is a mistake after mistake. China will never accept it. If the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will fight to the end.”