Overview

• President Trump continues to use a 'doll' metaphor to advocate for consumer sacrifices under his 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, despite backlash.
• Senate Republicans criticize the messaging as out of touch, urging Trump to adopt examples that resonate better with middle-class Americans.
• Critics argue the rhetoric taps into sexist stereotypes and undermines materialist values central to capitalism, drawing parallels to Jimmy Carter’s 'malaise' speech.
• Trade negotiations are progressing with 40 nations, but talks with China, the primary target of the tariffs, have yet to begin.
• Rising tariffs are expected to significantly increase prices on everyday goods like toys, diapers, and clothes, intensifying economic pressures on families.