As Halloween rolls around, costume stores all over Canada are no longer clamoring to stock up on Donald Trump costumes. Numerous other analog retailers, such as Theatre Garage in Edmonton and Theatrix in Hamilton, have experienced a similar shift in clientele. Customers want nothing to do with the costume based on the former U.S. president, a costume shopping forecast that’s fallen flat since his administration.
Christy Greenwood, owner of Theatre Garage, shared that UE impacted a better conversation on equity, inclusion, and diversity. She continued, “For sure I haven’t planned for somebody to costume Trump in years. That is a matter of urgency for many real-life costume shops. In their most shocking claim for the day, they brag about the crash in demand for Trump shirts OR Costs. Catriona Cameron, the assistant manager at Theatrix in Hamilton, said that requests for Trump wigs would previously have overwhelmed their order books. Today, they are an endangered species.
Factors contributing to the decline appear multifaceted. Many Canadians’ feelings about Trump have soured during his second term, particularly due to the economic impacts of his administration’s tariffs on industries like steel, which is vital to Hamilton. Greenwood pointed out that much of the disinterest stems from a broader exhaustion with American political figures: “It’s not just a Trump thing — demand for all U.S. celebrity costumes is down this year,” she stated.
The volatile political landscape has affected far more than apparel decisions. Catriona Cameron shared that their customers have complained about American flags on the costumes. Now they would have Canadian symbols placed over top them instead. So if we had an astronaut (costume) with an American flag, they’ve requested to have that taken away,” she said. This would represent a significant shift towards a growing desire for costumes that reflect a deeper connection to Canadian identity.
Niamh Dower, a local resident, expressed her views on the trend: “U.S. celebrity costumes are a little played out right now,” she stated. She thinks there are a lot of people who are tired of Trump and his time in office. As she boldly writes, “I think we’ve seen enough of him, quite frankly.” In using their voice within the advocacy community, Labute found support that’s essential. She portrays Trump as “sort of a joke right now to most of us Canadians.”
This year’s costume rental selections are a clear sign of how quickly the dynamics around Trump have shifted. Greenwood pointed out that instead of foam and LEDs, consumers are flocking to classic Halloween aesthetics. “Everybody’s doing the usuals,” she said. “People are doing classics. They’re doing clowns, vampires, that kind of stuff. This underlying, almost instinctual, urge to escape the orbit of political elite seems to us the wellspring of much of the relief felt by so many.
Dan Sims offered a wealth of insight into crafting a Trump costume. It’s likely not an idea I would pursue, but guess what? He’s orange, he’s got the bad hair — it’s a low-bar costume to start with. Others continue to find a lot of fun in the idea of imitating Trump for comedic effect. Perhaps no indicator is more telling than the sheer disinterest in these costumes.
As Halloween nears, most Canadians long for a respite. Most of all, they just want to get away from all the political rhetoric that has filled these past few years. Greenwood reflects this feeling: “I think this Halloween is a vacation from all the rhetoric and stuff.” In fact, fewer people seem interested in dressing as divisive figures such as Trump. In response, costume shops have had to pivot, focusing more on traditional, classic, and gender-neutral options.
