President Trump has a message for the nation’s youngsters: Put together to sacrifice to your nation.

He was taking questions on the finish of one among his marathon cupboard conferences when he lastly allowed that, sure, his tariff insurance policies and the commerce battle he has set off with China might quickly lead to some emptier-than-usual cabinets in shops. Particularly, toy shops.

“You realize, someone stated, ‘Oh, the cabinets are going to be open,’” Mr. Trump stated. “Nicely, possibly the youngsters may have two dolls as a substitute of 30 dolls, you already know? And possibly the 2 dolls will value a few bucks greater than they’d usually.”

This, from the billionaire, crypto-salesman, golf-club-operating, Palm Seaside-by-way-of-Fifth Avenue president with the golden workplace and the golden triplex condominium. There he sat, surrounded by the opposite billionaires with whom he has crammed his cupboard, telling the girls and boys of America they’ll simply must make do with fewer toys this 12 months for the better good.

This grinchy pronouncement by the president had the worth of being truthful.

Many American toymakers and retailers have began to pause their orders as the results of Mr. Trump’s tariffs ripple out, threatening to snarl provide chains. It might all have a huge impact on this 12 months’s vacation season because it takes months to fabricate, bundle and ship many merchandise to the USA.

Greg Ahearn, chief govt of the Toy Affiliation, a U.S. trade group representing 850 toy producers, informed The Instances that there’s now a “frozen provide chain that’s placing Christmas in danger.”

“If we don’t begin manufacturing quickly,” Mr. Ahearn stated, “there’s a excessive chance of a toy scarcity this vacation season.”

You hear that, youngsters?