President’s son criticised for using three-year-old daughter to make political point as users say trick-or-treat analogy is way off the mark

Donald Trump Jr got a lesson in sharing from social media on Tuesday, after tweeting a picture of his daughter Chloe with her Halloween candy haul, and threatening to take half of it away to “teach her about socialism”.

Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) I’m going to take half of Chloe’s candy tonight & give it to some kid who sat at home. It’s never to early to teach her about socialism. pic.twitter.com/3ie9C0jv2G

Within hours, Trump Jr’s tweet had generated over 50,000 replies, with many users pointing out that he wasn’t describing socialism, but sharing – something most children are taught to do.

박주현 (@Hermit_Hwarang) Imagine thinking that teaching your child to share is bad. https://t.co/tVa3Uw4x3R

Lots of people used the tweet as an opportunity to criticise Trump Jr’s understanding of socialism, given that trick-or-treat candy is given to children as a handout due to the kindness of strangers.



💀👻The News👻💀 (@Bearpigman) My man, "socialism" was her getting that free candy in the first place. You taking half for reasons she can't understand is capitalism https://t.co/w9x9zB0xLA

Nick Pettigrew (@Nick_Pettigrew) Your kid went begging from hard-working people for candy. The kid who stayed home got theirs because their parents worked to pay for it.

In your simile, if anyone’s the socialist it’s Chloe. https://t.co/GNT6viB524

Some pointed out that giving candy to children who weren’t able to go out trick-or-treating would, in most circumstances, be considered a good deed.

Patrick McGee (@PatrickMcGee_) Going to a home of disabled children and handing out candy there would teach her (and you) a lot more. https://t.co/N2l14yEPaR

Abby (@AbbyJSS) Let me fix that for you... "Give some of the free candy she got to children who couldn't go out to get free candy." https://t.co/XM9DcbkDFP

The origins of Trump Jr’s own inherited wealth were also a target for mockery.

Tim Jong Un (@Tim_McNulty) From the guy who got his millions by being born to a millionaire. Who got his millions by being born to a millionaire https://t.co/iyXWBwP5fX

Matt Blackwell (@matt_blackwell) It's telling that junior thinks that "walking around getting gifts from people" is a good metaphor for "earning money" https://t.co/41m4nfQBr4

Hugo Rifkind (@hugorifkind) Revealing conflation of "good honest graft" with "being given stuff because you're a kid" here. https://t.co/hmanbsLnXP

Those making this point included the Harry Potter author JK Rowling

J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) Fill her bucket with old candy left by her great-grandfather, then explain that she has more because she's smarter than all the other kids. https://t.co/0lbhHYyFe4

Other people stretched Trump Jr’s analogy to illustrate “trickle-down” economics, make a point about his father’s proposed tax reform programme.

Amir (@AmirAminiMD) Or you could just take 99% of Chloe’s candy, eat it and tell her to wait for it to trickle down. https://t.co/B24iOoLXpU

Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) Or you could give 90% of her candy to the one richest kid in the neighborhood.



It's never too early to teach her about Republicanism. https://t.co/gARIEd0qfM

And of course, there was plenty of mention of the Trump campaign’s alleged ties with Russia.

John SCAREavosis (@aravosis) Why not give all of it to Russia, and teach her about her dad and her grandpa. https://t.co/2bwiA5Ys02

Chris Boone (@ChrisBoone) How do you even know if the kid who sat at home likes Russian candy?

There was also criticism of Trump Jr’s decision to use his three-year-old daughter to make a political point.

Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) “Don’t bring the kids into it. kids are off-limits." https://t.co/aR48VBhHcZ

Mike Holden (@MikeHolden42) "But daddy, people gave me these sweets free out of kindness"

"SHUT UP AND POSE FOR DADDY'S POLITICAL SNIPE PHOTOGRAPH!" https://t.co/OXJNOjvnuw

Halloween hasn’t been the easiest period for the Trump family, with the president criticised for remarks he made when meeting children in the White House over Halloween.