Did Walmart Lower Prices Because Trump Asked Them To? Here's What the Chain Said
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to claim credit on Monday for Walmart's recent price cuts, but a statement from the company made no mention of government involvement in its decision. The president has faced public criticism due to rising inflation during his administration, following an initial price increase after his decision to implement strict tariff policies and later, with the onset of the war against Iran in late February. Trump called a recent bipartisan measure to reduce housing costs a 'yawn' and attempted to blame Democrats for the ongoing inflation. With the upcoming November elections where control of Congress is at stake, Trump has sought to label Democrats as communists who would interfere with private businesses. However, in his Monday social media post about Walmart, he claimed that the company had lowered its prices at the request of his government. 'I have just been informed that one of the best, largest, and smartest retailers in the United States, Walmart, will significantly lower prices at the request of my government to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great country,' Trump stated. 'Walmart, in particular, will reduce the price of a pound of ground beef by nearly 15%, among many other products.' Walmart has largely benefited from rising inflation during Trump's tenure, as consumers have turned to its stores and website for lower prices, according to its most recent quarterly results from May. The company noted in a statement released after the president's post that its discounts at Walmart and Sam’s Club 'aim to help customers and partners make the most of' the summer season. No interaction with the government was mentioned, and the company did not publicly comment on the president's statements. The statement highlighted price reductions on products such as ground beef, corn, red cherries, ice cream, chips, and Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. Consumer price inflation has risen 4.2% over the past 12 months, a much higher level than the 3% rate Trump inherited, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some inflationary pressures may ease after a temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran has led to a drop in oil prices, as more oil tankers have been able to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has famously used Walmart as a barometer of the American consumer, and in May 2025, he told the company it needed to 'swallow' the cost of the tariffs he had unilaterally imposed. 'Walmart must stop trying to blame tariffs as the reason for raising its prices across the board,' Trump posted just over a year ago. 'Walmart made billions of dollars last year, much more than expected. Between Walmart and China, they should, as they say, 'swallow the tariffs,' and not charge anything to their valuable customers. I will be watching, and so will their customers!' This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. A Telemundo Digital editor reviewed the translation.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
