Trump’s ‘They Can Have 5’ Moment is an Attack on Capitalism
While recently aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump told reporters that “a young lady—a 10-year-old girl, 9-year-old girl, 15-year-old girl—doesn’t need 37 dolls. She could be very happy with two or three or four or five.” He doubled down in an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, saying that Americans “don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.”
Trump is referring to the economic hardship that is inevitable due to his tariffs. Toys are a particular focus, many of which come from China and are subject to the highest tariffs. Trump is asking Americans to make sacrifices, and not with the eloquence of John F. Kennedy—the sacrifices we make are simply to satisfy his pride.
Americans produce a lot and consume a lot. We have among the highest average incomes and we buy a lot of stuff. We derive pleasure from acquiring and using material things, whether they’re toys, clothes, video games, or cars. If 37 dolls make you happy, and you have the means, then go out and buy 37 dolls. It is not a question of whether we need them or not.
Trump’s comments are an explicit rejection of materialism, abundance, and capitalism itself. I much prefer the Trump who was obsessively tweeting about stocks going up in his first term. Not only is Trump not tweetin
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