People were out shopping at a Walmart in Rosemead, California, on April 11, 2025. The scene was bustling as customers browsed the aisles for deals and essentials. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration with Walmart after the retail giant announced plans to raise prices due to tariffs. In a fiery post, Trump called on Walmart to take responsibility for the tariffs and not pass the costs onto customers. He warned that he and the customers would be watching closely.
Walmart’s CFO, John David Rainey, acknowledged the challenges posed by the tariffs in an interview with CNBC. He noted that the speed and magnitude of the price increases were unprecedented for the company. Despite some progress made by the Trump administration in lowering tariffs, Rainey emphasized that they were still too high. Walmart imports a wide range of products from China and other countries, including electronics, toys, and produce. The company is committed to keeping prices competitive and absorbing some of the tariff-related costs to provide value to customers.
In response to Trump’s criticism, Walmart reaffirmed its commitment to keeping prices as low as possible. The company stated that it would continue to work with suppliers to mitigate the impact of tariffs on prices. Walmart is not alone in facing the challenges of tariffs, as other companies like Microsoft, Mattel, and Ford have also announced price increases. Despite the uncertainties created by changing tariff policies, Walmart has maintained its sales forecast for the year. The retail industry as a whole is bracing for the impact of tariffs, with major players like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s expected to address the issue in their upcoming financial reports. Investors are keeping a close eye on how companies navigate the tariff landscape and its implications on pricing and sales.
