While working-class Americans are forced to scramble to stretch their budgets, President Donald Trump spares no expense in flaunting his wealth: golden shoes, golden hotels and new golden accents in the Oval Office, all on top of coming into the world with a silver spoon in his mouth.

When questioned during a cabinet meeting on April 30 about the impact of his tariffs, Trump said, “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.” 

Some in the toy industry disagree. As Jonathan Cathey, CEO of The Loyal Subjects, put it best in a LinkedIn post, Trump’s comments are “COMPLETELY out of touch” and signify a “let them eat cake” moment.

Worse, Trump’s offhand remark arrived just days after the Commerce Department revealed the United States economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter, wiping out $16.3 billion in GDP. Instead of directly addressing these warning signs, Trump blamed former President Joe Biden and insisted China will bear the brunt of his tariffs, leaving families in the U.S. to shoulder the real cost.

Trump’s comments hinted at the U.S.’ culture of overconsumption. He said that Chinese ships delivering our goods are “loaded up with stuff, much of which — not all of it — but much of which we don’t need.” Meanwhile, on the Trump Store website, he continues to sell arguably unnecessary items like golf balls, hats, various gold bar memorabilia and golden sneakers.

It’s true: People in the U.S. can have gluttonous purchasing habits. Admittedly, I’ve fallen victim to this trend. While I only need one reusable bottle, I have multiple, including Stanleys, Hydro Flasks, S’wells, Owalas and more. 

According to Heal The Planet, an organization aimed at inspiring people to focus on improving the Earth’s health, only 12% of the world’s population lives in North America and Western Europe, but this geodemographic accounts for 60% of all private consumption.

In fact, data from Global Footprint Network reports that if everyone’s consumption patterns were similar to the average American’s, it would take more than 2 Earths to support the human population.

Overconsumption threatens our planet, since we use resources faster than our Earth can regenerate them. It also contributes to climate change as carbon emissions skyrocket from activities such as purchasing from fast fashion companies like Shein or Zara. To save our planet, we need to change our habits. 

However, Trump’s tariffs are not meant to combat this. They’re intended to “address the injustices of global trade, re-shore manufacturing, and drive economic growth for the American people,” according a White House fact sheet.

Currently, tariffs on imported Chinese goods are 30%, meaning items — including toys — from China will be more expensive. 

To put this into perspective, let’s look at one of the most popular dolls in the early 2000s: the Bratz doll. Assuming a regular-sized Bratz doll without tariffs costs a buyer anywhere from $25 to $30, a 30% tariff would cause these dolls to list for $32.50 to $39 if the toymaker offsets the cost of the tariff by increasing their prices. 

Trump’s tariffs will affect the majority of the U.S. toy industry, as 80% of its toys come from China, according to the Associated Press. Toy manufacturers like Mattel plan to offset costs by increasing prices. Others plan to relocate their factories. Smaller toy companies like The Loyal Subjects even stopped shipments from China altogether in April. 

These additional costs can be another monetary burden for struggling families who couldn’t afford toys and dolls for their kids pre-tariffs. For instance, Allison Pugh, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, found that some lower-income parents are willing to forfeit some basic needs to buy toys for their children; now, they may need to forfeit even more to compensate for rising prices. 

Buying more than two dolls shouldn’t be seen as excessive — especially when our president doesn’t practice what he preaches: His son drove around a personalized toy Mercedes-Benz as a child. Working class families are already pinching pennies. A toy Mercedes-Benz for one’s child only underscores the disconnect between our President and the common person.

Imposing a 30% tariff seems to have the opposite effect of what Trump intended. It’s not curbing overconsumption. Furthermore, Deloitte economists found that tariffs will likely lead to higher inflation, slow consumer spending growth and raise overall costs of production for U.S. companies. 

If tariffs are sold as a way to “make America great,” let’s demand policies that actually preserve our planet and protect our wallets. This means that Trump’s double-standard, back-and-forth tariffs aren’t the solution. Because if overconsumption is the issue, then accountability and sacrifice shouldn’t fall on solely the working-class; all people in the U.S. — including the top 1%, like Trump — must be held responsible for their buying habits.