Halloween is still two months away, but America's big-box retailers are already discovering that choosing who or what counts as scary can be dangerous business. Target apologized on August 24 and removed a children's circus-clown costume after shoppers said its design evoked blackface and minstrel show imagery. The company said the outfit was "offensive and should never have been part of our assortment." Despite the statement and removal, Target shares reportedly fell as much as 5 percent the following day.
Adding to the industry’s remarkably difficult Halloween, Target, Walmart and Amazon have now faced backlash for selling military costumes that some said resembled those worn by German soldiers during World War II. The outfits, complete with gray uniforms, peaked caps and military insignia, were criticized online for evoking Nazis, with some shoppers noting that Target, at least, removed its offending costume. Clearly, the country’s retailers need a less controversial source of Halloween ideas.
May we suggest President Donald Trump’s continually changing cast of political antagonists as inspiration? This year, the possibilities are richer than ever as Trump's current confrontations span foreign leaders, Democratic politicians, central bankers, television journalists and one rock star. Some former adversaries have even migrated unexpectedly toward the presidential good books, which makes the collection easier to refresh every season.
Costume includes: Sensible suit, maple leaf and the unnerving ability to say no to the United States without raising your voice. Lake Ontario sold separately. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is the freshest addition to the collection.
U.S.-Canada trade negotiations collapsed in August, with Washington now imposing new 50 percent tariffs on billions of dollars of Canadian imports and Ottawa preparing retaliatory measures. Carney has meanwhile sought to deepen Canada's economic relationships outside the United States. For the deluxe version, add a tiny European Union flag and a label reading: “May Reduce Dependence on America.” Costume includes: Italian flag, G7 lanyard and one photograph that absolutely nobody begged anybody else to take.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni once appeared unusually well positioned to deal with Trump as a fellow leader of the political right. Then came June's G7 summit, when Trump publicly said Meloni had repeatedly begged him for a photograph. Meloni said his account was fabricated, prompting an unusually personal public dispute between the two leaders.
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