BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Shortly after Walmart announced prices would increase on multiple items sold by the chain, President Donald Trump blasted the company on social media, accusing it of blaming tariffs.
“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday. “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’s post came after Walmart announced in its first-quarter earnings that prices for anything from bananas to car seats would increase partly due to the president’s tariffs.
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Walmart responded to Trump’s comments in a statement to NBC News and CBS News.
“We have always worked to keep our prices as low as possible and we won’t stop,” Walmart said. “We’ll keep prices as low as we can for as long as we can given the reality of small retail margins.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said during news interviews on Sunday that he spoke with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon a day earlier, and the company would reportedly absorb some of the tariffs.
“Walmart will be absorbing some of the tariffs, some may get passed on to consumers,” Bessent said, according to the Associated Press.
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Walmart told Nexstar’s KNWAon Sunday that it had no comment on Bessent’s remarks.
The retailer is not the only company to announce price hikes.
Microsoft said earlier this month that it planned to increase the recommended retail prices of Xbox video game consoles and some controllers. The company did not provide an exact reason for the price increase, although Xbox consoles are known to be manufactured in China, which has been a target of massive tariffs from the Trump administration.
Barbie maker Mattel, Ford and e-commerce giants Temu and Shein have also recently announced possible price hikes connected to tariffs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
