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Thanksgiving Meal Costs Drop at Walmart, but Trump’s Claims Need Context
Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal package will cost about 25% less than last year’s offering, but a closer examination reveals this price drop comes with significant changes to the meal’s contents. Former President Donald Trump has been highlighting this price reduction in recent statements without acknowledging these important differences.
The retail giant’s holiday meal promotion, which began in 2022, now costs nearly $40 compared to $55 in 2024. While this represents a substantial decrease, the 2025 meal contains fewer grocery items and different food brands than its predecessor.
When comparing identical baskets of items, the actual year-over-year price decrease is more modest. A recreation of the 2024 shopping cart on Walmart’s website showed a price of $51.39 before sales tax, representing about a 6.5% decline from last year’s $55 price tag.
Trump has repeatedly cited Walmart’s announcement in campaign messages. On November 5, he posted on Truth Social: “Walmart just announced that Prices for a Thanksgiving Dinner is now down 25% since under Sleepy/Crooked Joe Biden, in 2024. AFFORDABILITY is a Republican Stronghold.” He reiterated similar claims in remarks on November 5, 6, and 7, suggesting grocery prices “are way down.”
However, official data contradicts this broader claim about grocery affordability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for “food-at-home” increased by 1.4% from January to September 2025, and was up 2.7% compared to September 2024.
The 2025 Walmart meal features 15 different products totaling 22 individual items, compared to 21 different products and 29 individual items in 2024’s offering. This year’s meal includes a 13.5-pound Butterball turkey, Kinder’s fried onions, Great Value dinner rolls, fresh cranberries, and Stove Top turkey stuffing.
By contrast, last year’s meal contained an unspecified “Whole Frozen Turkey,” French’s crispy fried onions, Great Value sweet Hawaiian rolls, canned Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, and ingredients for homemade stuffing. Several items from the 2024 meal, including sweet potatoes and pecan pie, have been eliminated from this year’s package.
Walmart has positioned its 2025 offering as its “most affordable holiday meal yet,” designed to serve 10 people. Last year’s meal was marketed as serving “eight people for less than $7 per person.” Using the same items this year would cost approximately $6.42 per person for a group of that size.
The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute offers additional perspective, reporting that its 10-person Thanksgiving dinner costs 2-3% less this year, depending on shopping strategy. Their analysis found a dinner menu using private-label items would cost $80, while national name brands would total $95.
“At the heart of the uptick in the CPI’s food-at-home increase is protein, specifically beef and eggs, which are not on the Thanksgiving menu,” the Wells Fargo report explains. “Without those items, consumers will find relief in a traditional Thanksgiving meal.”
These findings suggest that while certain holiday meal components have become more affordable, the broader grocery inflation picture remains more complex than political statements might suggest. Consumers may find varying levels of relief depending on their specific shopping needs and preferences this holiday season.
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6 Comments
While the Walmart Thanksgiving meal price has dropped, the real story seems to be the changes to the contents. Trump’s claim lacks important context. It would be helpful to see a transparent comparison of the 2024 and 2025 meal packages to understand the true price difference.
This is a complex issue with multiple factors at play. Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal pricing has changed, but so have the contents. Trump’s claim of a 25% drop doesn’t tell the whole story. I’d like to see a thorough analysis that looks at the details and avoids political spin.
Interesting to see Walmart adjust their Thanksgiving meal pricing and contents. Trump’s statement about a 25% price drop is technically accurate but lacks important nuance. A more detailed, side-by-side comparison would provide a clearer picture for consumers.
It’s good to see Walmart offering more affordable Thanksgiving meal options, but Trump’s claim needs more context. The 25% price drop comes with changes to the meal contents, so the actual year-over-year decline is more modest. I’d like to see a fair comparison of identical baskets.
Agreed, the details matter here. Simply highlighting the 25% price drop without acknowledging the changes to the meal components is misleading. Consumers deserve accurate information to make informed decisions.
This seems like a misleading claim by Trump. While Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal package is 25% cheaper than 2024, the contents have been reduced. A more apples-to-apples comparison shows only a 6.5% price drop. It’s important to examine the details behind these types of announcements.