(DDM) — U.S. President Donald Trump is facing criticism after repeatedly boasting that Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal basket is cheaper than last year’s, despite the fact that it contains significantly fewer items than before.
According to Walmart’s announcement, this year’s holiday basket features only 15 products, a reduction of six compared to the 21 items offered in 2024.
When counted individually, including duplicates like multiple cans of vegetables, the total items dropped from 29 to just 22.
Critics argue that Trump’s claim of a 25% price cut is misleading because the smaller basket size and increased use of Walmart’s “Great Value” store-brand products make the comparison uneven. Last year’s basket included a higher proportion of name-brand items, making it naturally more expensive.
Trump has been emphasizing “affordability” and “economic relief” as key talking points following the Republican Party’s recent setbacks in local and state elections.
Many victorious Democratic candidates focused on the cost of living crisis, which has remained a top concern among American voters.
During campaign stops and media interviews this week, Trump touted Walmart’s announcement as proof that grocery prices are “way down” since his return to office.
He claimed the new basket, priced below $40, reflects a 25% reduction from last year’s $55 price tag.
However, economic analysts and fact-checkers have called the comparison flawed.
They note that the company’s cost-saving strategy involves downsizing the meal set rather than reducing prices across the same range of goods.
The smaller basket, which now relies more on budget-friendly store-brand products, gives the illusion of lower prices without addressing real inflationary pressures affecting American families.
Walmart itself confirmed that the reduced cost results partly from product substitutions and adjustments aimed at helping customers “enjoy a Thanksgiving meal for less.” The retailer stopped short of claiming that overall food prices had dropped.
Economists also point out that essential grocery items like turkey, potatoes, and canned vegetables have not seen a uniform price decline, suggesting that inflation continues to erode household purchasing power despite Trump’s assurances.
As Thanksgiving approaches, the debate underscores broader concerns about the administration’s economic narrative — and whether symbolic gestures like Walmart’s smaller meal basket can truly mask the real struggles of working-class Americans.
Trump’s opponents argue that his rhetoric exploits corporate marketing tactics to paint a rosier picture of economic recovery, while many families continue to feel the pinch of rising costs and stagnant wages.
The controversy over the Thanksgiving basket has quickly become another flashpoint in the larger political war over inflation, affordability, and truth in public messaging.