The president hasn't always approved of Walmart's moves, having criticized the chain's response to tariffs last year
President Donald Trump said Walmart would be lowering prices for ground beef by almost 15%.
President Donald Trump on Monday said Walmart would cut prices for ground beef and other items, saying the move was made in response to a "request" from his administration and calling the retailer "patriotic" for doing so.
A separate price-cut announcement from the big-box chain on Monday did not mention the government. The prices announced in that release went into effect last week, a company representative said.
"I have just been informed that one of the biggest, best, and smartest Retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration's request to celebrate our great Country's 250th birthday, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"Walmart will, in particular, be dropping the price for a pound of ground beef by almost 15%, among many other products," Trump said in the post - describing the chain as "a truly patriotic Company who loves the U.S.A." for doing so.
"Walmart is stepping up in a big and bold way, and other Retailers should follow the lead of these absolute Patriots," Trump added later.
When reached for comment, a Walmart representative referred MarketWatch to a press release published Monday announcing lower prices on beef and other summer-season items. The representative said that Walmart's price rollbacks generally last for around 90 days.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
Shares of Walmart $(WMT)$ were fractionally lower in after-hours trading Monday, after finishing the regular trading session down 1%. The stock is down 0.7% so far this year, after touching record highs earlier in the year.
Trump's tone on Monday was far kinder toward Walmart than it was last year, when the company said its shoppers should prepare for higher prices as a result of U.S. tariffs.
Trump, at that time, said in response that Walmart should "eat" the tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then said the retailer would, in fact, absorb some of the costs related to those import taxes. The Supreme Court earlier this year struck down the president's use of emergency-powers tariffs.
Still, Walmart in May said that people were putting less gas in their tanks after the Iran war drove oil prices (CL00) higher, and said that higher fuel costs could push up prices for store items. National average gas prices have since eased to below $4 a gallon, according to AAA.
Trump made Monday's announcement after the Justice Department this year said it was looking into possible antitrust violations in the U.S. cattle and beef industries as beef prices rose to near record levels. Average U.S. ground-beef prices have hovered near $7 a pound, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Last week, the DOJ, along with 17 state attorneys general, said it filed a civil lawsuit against egg producers including Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) for alleged "unlawful coordinated manipulation of egg prices." The agency also filed proposed settlements in connection with the suit that would, with court approval, "prevent these companies from engaging in such coordinated manipulation in the future."
Rising egg prices through 2024 and last year, amid a massive bird-flu outbreak, became emblematic of shoppers' struggles with inflation. Meanwhile, analysts have said factors like smaller cattle herds, droughts, wildfires and processing-plant closures have played a role in driving up beef prices.
-Bill Peters
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July 06, 2026 19:27 ET (23:27 GMT)
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