President Donald Trump on Saturday told Walmart CEO Doug McMillon not to raise prices for Americans, but to instead “eat the tariffs.”
Trump recently dropped tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%, but this week, McMillion said Walmart still could not absorb the extra costs, and will have to increase prices.
“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” the president posted on Truth Social. “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,” Trump wrote. “I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!”
McMillon made comments about having to raise prices, specifically over tariffs on China, during an earnings call on Thursday.
“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,” he said. “But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.”
“The higher tariffs will result in higher prices,” McMillon added.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images
There have been mixed reactions online to Trump’s demand for Walmart to “eat” the extra costs. Some have noted that Trump had previously suggested that China would likely “eat” the extra costs themselves.
However, others, like journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, railed against Walmart for hurting Americans while she said they “brag” about being a pro-American corporation.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating,” Ungar-Sargon said on Fox News airwaves this week, following McMillon’s comments. “Walmart walks around bragging that 75% of the products that they sell are made here in the United States. Why are you raising prices?”
“Do you know what Walmart’s yearly profits were last year? 169 billion dollars,” Ungar-Sargon continued. “Don’t raise prices. Support the president, support the agenda, support the American working class.”
Ungar-Sargon added that she doesn’t see these potential price hikes as “political,” but more about “rampant greed.”
WATCH:
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warns that they will be raising prices in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Shoppers will likely see price increases toward the end of May and more in June.
Batya Ungar-Sargon: “This is absolutely unacceptable and infuriating. Walmart walks around… pic.twitter.com/JpONWTgQRE
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) May 16, 2025
Related: U.S. Wholesale Prices See Biggest Drop In 5 Years, Flying In The Face Of Economists’ Predictions