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Trump’s Walmart Thanksgiving Claims Require Context, Analysis Shows
President Donald Trump has repeatedly highlighted Walmart’s promotional Thanksgiving meal basket as evidence of declining grocery prices, emphasizing that this year’s basket costs 25% less than last year’s version. What the president’s statements omit, however, is that the 2025 basket contains significantly fewer items than its 2024 predecessor.
An analysis of Walmart’s holiday promotion reveals this year’s basket includes just 15 products, compared to 21 in the previous year. When counting individual items separately, the current offering contains 22 items versus last year’s 29. The composition has also shifted toward more store-brand “Great Value” products and away from name brands that were more prevalent in 2024.
The president’s focus on Walmart’s promotion comes amid his broader claims about food affordability, particularly following Republican defeats in Tuesday’s state and local elections where Democratic candidates successfully campaigned on cost-of-living issues.
While Walmart did announce a 25% reduction in its holiday meal basket—from approximately $55 last year to under $40 this year—retail experts note that promotional holiday deals from a single retailer provide poor indicators of national inflation trends, especially when the basket’s contents change annually.
Several significant differences exist between this year’s and last year’s offerings. The 2024 basket included both a pre-made pecan pie and ingredients for a pumpkin pie; this year’s version lacks the pecan pie entirely. Last year, shoppers received both russet potatoes and sweet potatoes; the current basket omits the sweet potatoes. The cream of mushroom soup quantity has been halved from two cans to one.
Other items missing from this year’s promotion include miniature marshmallows, corn muffin mix, fresh onions, fresh celery stalks, and cranberry sauce, which has been replaced by slightly less expensive fresh cranberries.
The 2025 basket does include some additions: an extra can of green beans, pre-made stuffing mix, fresh carrots, and three boxes of macaroni and cheese. It also specifies a 13.5-pound Butterball turkey, whereas last year’s promotion mentioned only a generic 10-to-16-pound turkey with no brand designation.
When contacted, Walmart declined to comment on the president’s statements or the basket’s compositional changes. In its promotional materials, the company states the new basket serves 10 people—compared to eight people for last year’s offering—and represents its “best offer” since launching the Thanksgiving promotion in 2022, featuring “generous portions of turkey, stuffing, traditional sides, rolls and dessert ingredients.”
Beyond promotional holiday baskets, official economic data contradicts Trump’s frequent assertions that grocery prices have fallen during his second term. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index figures from September, average grocery prices were approximately 2.7% higher than the previous year and about 1.4% higher than January when Trump returned to office.
Month-to-month increases have been particularly notable recently. Grocery prices rose 0.3% from August to September, following a 0.6% increase from July to August—the largest monthly jump in three years.
The president has repeatedly claimed that beef is the only grocery product whose price has increased. However, Consumer Price Index data shows dozens of other food items have become more expensive over both the past year and since January.
Economic analysts emphasize that while promotional pricing on specific retail items may fluctuate based on marketing strategies, broader economic indicators provide a more accurate picture of national inflation trends that affect American consumers’ everyday purchases.
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8 Comments
As someone who enjoys cooking and hosting Thanksgiving, I’m always interested in these types of retail promotions. While the price drop is noteworthy, the shift in product composition is an important factor to consider. Consumers will want to weigh all the details to ensure they’re getting the best value for their holiday meal.
It’s interesting to see the differences in Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal basket this year compared to last. The 25% price drop is noteworthy, but the reduced number of items raises some questions about value and quality. I wonder how the product mix has changed as well.
Agreed, the shift towards more store-brand items is worth looking into further. Pricing and affordability are important, but the overall composition of the basket is also a key consideration for consumers.
This is a good example of the importance of fact-checking and providing context around political claims, even on seemingly straightforward topics like grocery prices. The Walmart Thanksgiving basket changes highlight how the details can matter just as much as the top-line figures.
Thanksgiving is a special time, and it’s good to see retailers trying to offer affordable options. However, the details around Walmart’s basket changes are important to understand. Consumers will want to weigh quality, variety, and value when making their holiday meal plans.
That’s a fair point. Focusing solely on the price reduction without examining the full context could be misleading. It will be interesting to see how shoppers respond to the updated Walmart Thanksgiving offering.
The political context around these Thanksgiving meal basket claims is noteworthy. Cost-of-living issues were a focus in recent elections, so it makes sense that the president would highlight any perceived declines in grocery prices. However, the details matter, and the analysis here suggests a more nuanced picture.
Exactly. It’s important to look beyond the headline numbers and understand the full scope of the changes to Walmart’s holiday offering. Consumers will want to make informed choices about their Thanksgiving meal planning.