Donald Trump’s tariffs are taxing the hell out of parents and their children. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, toys, games, and playground gear had their biggest price jumps ever, spiking 2.2% in a single month between April and May.
Economists expect the price surge to continue in the coming months as more manufacturers and retailers pass on higher costs to consumers.
Last month, Trump dismissed concerns from working households and suggested that families buy their children fewer toys as prices spike, saying, “Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of thirty dolls, you know?. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
New reporting from The Washington Post reveals that Trump’s tariffs resulted in toy makers raising prices as much as 36%.
The CEO of toy-making giant Mattel confirmed last month that the company would raise prices as tariffs increased the cost of production. Additionally, toy seller Hasbro confirmed cutting 3% of its global workforce to bring down costs and navigate Trump’s tariffs.
“Even playtime is getting more expensive in the Trump economy,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesman Brandon Weathersby. “While Trump routinely profits off the presidency through memecoins, cell phones, and countless other grifts, his message to families is to ruin their kids’ childhoods by buying fewer toys for birthdays and Christmas. Trump’s economy is working for him, and he doesn’t care if it hurts anyone else.”
Published: Jun 27, 2025