Watch President Donald Trump’s granddaughter tee off at the Annika Pro-Am
Kai Trump makes his LPGA Tour debut at the Anika Pro-Am.
Kai Trump, the president’s 18-year-old influencer granddaughter, went to the grocery store. And many are not satisfied with it.
That’s because she didn’t just go to the grocery store. She went to Erewhon, a trendy Los Angeles market notorious for its eccentric wellness products and exorbitant prices.
In a YouTube video posted on March 9th titled “I Brought My Secret Service to Erewhon,” President Trump chronicled his Erewhon experience, which included purchasing a jar of dates and a smoothie for about $20 each. All in all, her bill came to $233.
“I’m about to go broke over this,” she said in the video. “I’m going to have to file for bankruptcy.”
The video has been viewed more than 410,000 times, with many angry voices in the comments section saying, “That’s why the French revolted…” “The Hunger Games are insane at this point, LOL.” “‘Let them eat cake,’ but really.” Others, like one X user, tried to soften the backlash. “At the end of the day, Kai Trump is probably the last person anyone should expect to contact.”
It’s no surprise that this video received backlash. And in fact, psychology experts say this anger has little to do with Kai Trump himself. Rather, the anger stems from something much deeper. This is the stress many Americans feel when shopping for everyday items such as groceries.
“Especially now, when people are finding it harder and harder to find jobs, with more layoffs, and with benefits being cut,” says Stephanie Serkis, a Florida-based psychotherapist. “People are interested in this, but they’re also angry about how things have changed.”
Why Kai Trump and her Erewhon prey shakes so many nerves
According to Serkis, the anger directed at Kai Trump is less about her and more about what she represents. For many, her Erewhon accomplishments are a stark reminder of economic inequality.
We all know that huge economic inequality exists, and now it’s even more apparent because of social media.
“We’re seeing it clearly,” Serkis said. “When it’s right in front of you, that frustration and anger can become even more apparent.”
For many people, Kai Trump likely represents this division, Serkis said.
Eric Anderson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told USA TODAY that there are several reasons why displays of wealth can offend people. One reason for this, he said, is that it taps into feelings of resignation that many people have about their financial situation.
Most Americans face financial strain, which can contribute to mental health issues.
“Poverty itself can be a stressor,” Anderson previously told USA TODAY. “We basically think that happiness is correlated with income. So basically, the larger the middle class, the more people have high levels of happiness, and the smaller the middle class, the lower the happiness of the average population.”
What Anger Says About Us
Serkis said it’s OK to feel angry about Kai Trump’s Erewhon video. The key is to process those emotions in a healthy and positive way. Bashing 18 year olds is not only wrong, it solves nothing.
“It’s normal to feel angry about it,” Serkis said. “The difference is how you deal with those emotions.”
If you’re feeling upset, think of ways to channel that emotion into something productive. If you are angry about your situation, take steps to change it. This isn’t the first time a show of wealth has sparked a public backlash (remember Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish wedding in Venice?), and it won’t be the last.
“We can have a lot of different emotions, but we don’t necessarily feel responsible,” Serkis previously told USA TODAY. “And we really need to think about what it is that we’re angry about and whether there’s anything we can do to change it.”
