President Donald Trump on Sunday was criticized for defending his trade policies by insisting 11-year-old girls “can have 3 dolls or 4 dolls” and “5” pencils — with one critic exclaiming, the president “sounds like a true communist to me.”
In an interview that aired Sunday, NBC News’ Kristen Welker asked Trump about comments he made during a recent Cabinet meeting where he argued “maybe the children will have 2 dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the 2 dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
“Are you saying your tariffs will cause some prices to go up?” Welker asked Trump.
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“No, I think the tariffs are going to be great for us because it’s going to make us rich,” Trump said.
When Welker noted he’s previously acknowledged prices will go up, Trump launched into a stunning defense of his economic policy.
“I don't think a beautiful baby girl that's 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls,” Trump said. “I think they can have 3 dolls or 4 dolls. They don't need to have 250 pencils. They can have 5.”
“Sounds like a true communist to me,” anti-Trump X account @RpsAgainstTrump posted.
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“Hahaha. Five pencils per household. Truly, the Golden Age!” Cato Institute Vice President Scott Lincicome replied.
"The Department of Central Planning and Child Rearing has figured out the optimal number of dolls and pencils each child should have to make beautiful Republic,” University of Michigan professor Justin Wolfers quipped.
"So we should buy $50,000 Teslas but not too many pencils?” gun violence prevention advocate Shannon Watts asked. “Got it.”
Even conservative talk radio host Erik Erickson took issue with the president’s remark.
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“This is not a good angle from President Trump,” Erickson said. “It is the worst California or European style nanny statism — the government knows best how many dolls and pencils you need. Not you. Not your parents. In government we trust.”
Watch the video below or at this link.