


Treasury Secretary Claims Walmart Will Absorb Some Tariff Costs Amid Trump's Criticism
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reveals rising costs due to tariffs; Trump insists the company should not pass costs to consumers.



Overview
In response to Walmart's warning of price hikes due to tariffs, President Trump criticized the retailer, insisting it should absorb the costs. Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon noted pressures on prices, indicating that some increases began appearing in late April. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, downplayed inflation risks during interviews, claiming Walmart's warnings were a 'worst case scenario' and confirmed he had spoken with McMillon about the situation. Bessent stated Walmart would absorb some tariffs, though consumers might still face price increases as the company strives to keep prices low amid challenging retail margins.
Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.

Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.
Analysis
Left
Walmart will “eat some of the tariffs”, as affirmed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after his conversation with CEO Doug McMillon; however, the company still anticipates needing to raise prices due to the overwhelming pressure from tariffs.
Despite the agreement to absorb some costs, Walmart has indicated that price increases for consumers are unavoidable, particularly due to the substantial tariffs imposed on international trade, which they cannot fully absorb.
Trump's insistence that Walmart should bear the full cost of tariffs reflects his ongoing pressure on corporations to prioritize customer affordability, even as the retail giant recalibrates its pricing strategy amidst chaotic market conditions.
Center
There are not enough sources from this perspective to provide an analysis.
Right
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed inflation concerns, stating that Walmart's warnings about price hikes are merely a “worst case scenario” and emphasized the importance of reduced gasoline prices for consumers.
Though Trump has urged Walmart to absorb tariff costs, Bessent acknowledges that while some costs may be passed on to consumers, the expectation is that inflation should stay manageable despite ongoing uncertainties in trade negotiations.
The structure of Trump's tariff strategy remains focused on creating negotiation leverage, and any impact from tariffs on retailers like Walmart is acknowledged to be nuanced, affecting profitability while aiming to stabilize inflation.]
Bessent's remarks signal confidence in the administration’s economic leadership despite skepticism around earlier tax cut impacts and the consequences of escalating tariffs.
Left
Walmart will “eat some of the tariffs”, as affirmed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after his conversation with CEO Doug McMillon; however, the company still anticipates needing to raise prices due to the overwhelming pressure from tariffs.
Despite the agreement to absorb some costs, Walmart has indicated that price increases for consumers are unavoidable, particularly due to the substantial tariffs imposed on international trade, which they cannot fully absorb.
Trump's insistence that Walmart should bear the full cost of tariffs reflects his ongoing pressure on corporations to prioritize customer affordability, even as the retail giant recalibrates its pricing strategy amidst chaotic market conditions.
Center
There are not enough sources from this perspective to provide an analysis.
Right
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed inflation concerns, stating that Walmart's warnings about price hikes are merely a “worst case scenario” and emphasized the importance of reduced gasoline prices for consumers.
Though Trump has urged Walmart to absorb tariff costs, Bessent acknowledges that while some costs may be passed on to consumers, the expectation is that inflation should stay manageable despite ongoing uncertainties in trade negotiations.
The structure of Trump's tariff strategy remains focused on creating negotiation leverage, and any impact from tariffs on retailers like Walmart is acknowledged to be nuanced, affecting profitability while aiming to stabilize inflation.]
Bessent's remarks signal confidence in the administration’s economic leadership despite skepticism around earlier tax cut impacts and the consequences of escalating tariffs.
Articles (18)


















FAQ
History
- 1M15 articles
- 1M10 articles
- 1M4 articles