Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again ignited a war of words—this time targeting Walmart, America’s largest retailer, after the company warned that prices across its stores would rise due to his administration’s steep tariffs on Chinese imports.

In a fiery post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump accused the multinational retailer of using tariffs as a scapegoat for price hikes. “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 wrote on Saturday.

The comments follow remarks by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who told investors the company would “do our best to keep our prices as low as possible,” but acknowledged that the tariffs—especially those on Chinese goods—have created cost pressures too steep to absorb. “Even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” he said.

Consumers to Carry the Burden

Despite Trump’s insistence that businesses or foreign countries should foot the bill, economists paint a different picture. Analysts warn that the true impact of these tariffs will fall squarely on low- and middle-income families—especially those who rely on Walmart for essentials like food, household goods, and baby products.

“Customers need these things. Even if prices rise, they’re still going to buy them,” said Ryan Monarch, an economics professor at Syracuse University. “So you might expect products like that to see prices increasing pretty quickly.”

Price increases are expected to hit shelves as soon as late May, according to Walmart’s Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey, with more significant hikes expected by June.

What’s Getting More Expensive?

From groceries and baby formula to toys and electronics, everyday items are already becoming pricier. Many of the affected products come from regions like China, Colombia, Peru, and Vietnam—nations now hit with tariffs ranging from 10% to 25%, depending on the product category.

Walmart sources goods globally, and the company says it is feeling the sting across the board. “All of the tariffs create cost pressure for us, but the larger tariffs on China have the biggest impact,” McMillon confirmed.

Among the expected increases:

Political Pressure and Economic Fallout

The tariffs, initially raised to as high as 145% under Trump, were lowered to 30% as part of a temporary 90-day truce with China—but tensions remain high. Trump has threatened to raise them again “substantially” if a new trade deal isn’t reached. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick backed Trump’s stance, claiming that businesses—not consumers—ultimately absorb the cost.

But critics, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, call that logic “ludicrous.” A recent University of Michigan report showed consumer sentiment dropped nearly 3% in just one month, reflecting growing fears of economic downturn among Americans.

As U.S. trade policy continues to swing between political ambition and economic consequence, working-class families may soon find themselves paying the price—literally.


By Wafric News Desk.