Trump Is Obsessed With Walmart’s Thanksgiving Deal, But There’s More to the Price Story

President Trump cited Walmart’s latest Thanksgiving meal deal as evidence of falling inflation. He told business leaders and investors that the retailer’s lower holiday package price shows cost cutting. Numbers contradict Trump’s claims.

Trump said at a U.S.-Saudi investment event that Walmart’s Thanksgiving dinner is 25% cheaper than last year. Despite the big drop, he omitted crucial product information. When prices drop, meal packages change lots. This year’s $40 Walmart Thanksgiving dinner serves eight instead of ten. The package has six fewer, three smaller items. Several parts are generic. A lower price doesn’t always mean it costs less to feed the same number of people with the same quality.

Trump claims that the U.S. economy is improving and that prices are falling to control inflation. Many Americans think meat, dairy, and produce are too expensive. Every year, some foods cost more. Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal cost more than last year’s with the same portions and products, analysts found. This reduced real-world affordability change.

Despite these numbers, Trump has mostly called headline price drops economic wins. Walmart’s sale is used to brag about his administration’s performance, saying the country is in a “golden age” and price cuts are good for Americans. This story may make the economy seem too simple and fail to show how hard it is for families nationwide.

Walmart’s pricing strategy raises questions about economic policy, political messaging, and how real price changes affect groceries and holiday meals as Americans consider inflation. Thanksgiving shoppers may care more about sales details than headlines, so ignore price tags and sales.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service

• Bureau of Labor Statistics – Food Price Index

• Walmart Corporate Press Releases

• CBS News Economic and Inflation Reports