President Donald Trump is taking direct aim at Walmart, accusing the retail giant of using tariffs as an excuse to raise prices and urging the company to absorb the extra costs instead of passing them onto consumers.
“Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!” Trump wrote in a fiery Truth Social post on May 17.
His comments came just one day after Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, announced that it would begin raising prices later this month due to increased costs related to tariffs. Trump’s latest wave of tariffs, introduced in April, includes a 10 percent levy on imports from all countries and higher rates on goods from 60 specific nations. While the president has since paused or softened some of the measures, the overall pressure on global trade remains intense.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon addressed the issue publicly on Thursday, saying the retailer would do what it could to minimize the impact on consumers, but it could not fully absorb the cost hikes.
“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” McMillon said.
Walmart, which earned over $15 billion in profit last fiscal year, is caught in the middle of a heated political and economic debate. While many large corporations adjust their pricing strategies in response to international trade policies, Trump insists that companies with significant earnings should shoulder the burden instead of passing it on to American families.
The president’s statement reflects his long-standing belief that tariffs serve as a powerful negotiating tool and a way to hold foreign governments accountable—particularly China. Critics, however, warn that such strategies often end up hurting consumers the most, as businesses raise prices to offset increased import costs.
Trump’s directive to Walmart to “eat the tariffs” taps into a broader populist message he has championed throughout his political career—positioning himself as a defender of working-class Americans against what he views as corporate greed and global exploitation.
With the 2024 election cycle heating up and economic policy once again taking center stage, Trump’s remarks are likely a preview of his broader campaign messaging. By targeting a retail behemoth like Walmart, Trump is sending a clear message to other corporations: profit margins should not come at the expense of American shoppers.
As inflation continues to weigh on household budgets, Walmart’s pricing decisions will be closely watched—not just by consumers, but by a president with a massive online following and political ambitions still very much alive.
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