U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Walmart, accusing the retail giant of unfairly blaming his administration’s tariffs for rising prices and urging the company to absorb the costs instead of passing them on to consumers.
In a social media post, Trump wrote, “Walmart should STOP trying to blame tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. 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.” His remarks followed Walmart’s announcement earlier in the week that it would begin raising prices later this month, citing high tariffs on imported goods, many of which come from China.
In response, Walmart said it strives to keep prices low despite the challenges posed by narrow retail margins. “We’ll keep prices as low as we can for as long as we can,” the company stated to the media.
CEO Doug McMillon explained that while the company is working to shield consumers from the full impact of tariffs, it cannot absorb all costs without affecting its bottom line. However, he assured that food prices would not be affected. Walmart’s public acknowledgment of tariff-related cost pressures highlights broader concerns in the U.S. retail sector, as trade tensions between the U.S. and China continue to squeeze profit margins. The company serves as a key barometer of consumer sentiment and spending, reaching over 255 million shoppers globally each week.
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