Trump claims Walmart lowered prices at administration's request, company says cuts are seasonal
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President Donald Trump said Walmart reduced prices following a request from his administration, while Walmart said the discounts are part of a summer promotion and did not confirm any coordination with the White House.
President Donald Trump posted on social media that Walmart would lower prices, including a roughly 15% reduction on a pound of ground beef, to mark the United States' 250th birthday, saying the move came at the administration's request.
Walmart issued a statement after the post, noting that price rollbacks at its stores and Sam’s Club are intended to help customers during the summer season and listed discounts on items such as ground beef, corn, cherries, ice cream, potato chips, and soft drinks. The company did not mention any interaction with the federal government and declined to comment further on the president's claim.
The remarks come as inflation has risen 4.2% over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a rate higher than the 3% figure at the start of Trump's term. Analysts note that higher inflation has driven shoppers toward discount retailers like Walmart.
"I have just been informed that one of the biggest, best, and smartest Retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration’s request to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday," Trump wrote.
"Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain," Trump added in a previous post.
The president has previously criticized Democrats over inflation and used Walmart as an indicator of consumer sentiment, but no official confirmation of a request to the retailer has been provided.