This newly surfaced video has MAGA world divided.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A viral video from the 2024 campaign trail is now making headlines again as the Trump administration doubles down on tough economic policies aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China—even if it means fewer toys on the shelves.
In the now-resurfaced clip, filmed at a Michigan rally, a young girl wearing a “Trump 2024” shirt pleads with then-candidate Donald Trump: “Make Barbies cheaper.”
“All my favorite toys are so expensive,” she added, highlighting concerns millions of parents are now facing heading into the holiday season.
WATCH:
September 27, 2024. pic.twitter.com/hnbLkaFblU
— Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) May 7, 2025
Toy Prices Surge as Tariffs Take Hold
President Trump’s newly enacted 145% tariffs on Chinese imports are hitting the toy industry hard. Companies like Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, are responding with sharp price increases and warnings of potential shortages—especially as the holiday season approaches.
But for the Trump administration, these short-term sacrifices are a necessary step toward economic sovereignty.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30,” President Trump said during an April 30 cabinet meeting. “And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more. But they’ll be American-made—and safer.”
Trump: “We’re Putting America First”
Critics, mostly from the left and legacy media, quickly shared the video of the young girl asking for cheaper dolls, calling the moment ironic and out of touch.
But President Trump isn’t backing down.
“Does an 11-year-old really need 30 dolls? I think three or four is enough,” he said in a May 5 interview on Meet the Press. “What we were doing with China was just unbelievable. We had a trade deficit of hundreds of billions of dollars. We’re fixing that—for good.”
Economic Security Over Toy Surplus
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also weighed in:
“I’d tell those kids that thanks to President Trump, they’ll grow up with a better shot at the American Dream than their parents ever had.”
White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller added, “Americans would rather pay a little more for a better-made product built in the USA than settle for unsafe, cheap junk from China.”
Mattel’s CEO, Ynon Kreiz, confirmed during a Q1 earnings call that due to “global trade uncertainty” and U.S. tariffs, the company is “taking pricing action” and shifting its supply chain out of China.
“We expect 40–50% of our products to still be priced under $20,” Kreiz said, “while maintaining high quality standards.”
America First: Fewer Toys, Stronger Nation
Trump’s firm stance on trade with China remains a pillar of his second-term agenda. His administration argues that short-term price increases are a small price to pay for restoring American industry, protecting children from dangerous foreign-made goods, and securing long-term prosperity.
“We’re not backing down,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “If that means fewer dolls and more jobs, then I think the choice is pretty clear.”
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary Bessent are set to meet Chinese officials in Geneva this weekend to continue trade negotiations.
