Kathrine Frich
This isn’t Walmart’s first brush with political controversy.
This isn’t Walmart’s first brush with political controversy.
A Full-Page Add
A bold full-page ad in The New York Times, quietly funded by billionaire Christy Walton, has triggered a wave of political and commercial backlash in the United States.
The message: a call to defend democratic values under the slogan “No Kings Day.”
Subtle Jab at Trump-Era Authoritarianism
Though the ad doesn’t mention Donald Trump by name, its timing, just ahead of a military parade in Washington D.C. orchestrated by the Trump administration, left little room for misinterpretation.
The Walton heiress is urging Americans to rally for democracy as the nation prepares for what critics see as a pageant of power.
Trump Allies React: Boycott Walmart
The backlash was swift. Prominent Trump-aligned influencers, including U.S. official Kari Lake, took to social media to condemn the ad and call for a boycott of Walmart.
“Still shopping at Walmart?” Lake wrote on X (formerly Twitter), sharing an image of the protest ad to her followers, according to Ziare.
GOP Lawmakers Fan the Flames
Republican lawmakers joined the fray. Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna suggested Walton’s stance was driven by anger over Trump’s trade tariffs on China.
“Looks like the Walmart dynasty is upset about tariffs,” she quipped on social media, fueling the narrative that corporate elites oppose the administration’s “America First” economic agenda.
Walmart Distances Itself: “Not Involved”
Caught in the political crossfire, Walmart quickly issued a statement distancing itself from Christy Walton’s actions.
“These ads are not affiliated with Walmart in any way. Ms. Walton has no role on our board or within the company,” a spokesperson clarified, attempting to calm the growing storm.
White House Dismisses Protest as ‘Left-Wing PR Stunt’
The Trump White House didn’t hold back. Press Secretary Kush Desai labeled the campaign “a PR move from a left-wing billionaire burning her inheritance on a lost cause.”
He added, “77 million Americans voted for secure borders and fair trade. President Trump will deliver on those promises, with full executive authority.”
Walmart Finds Itself in Another Culture War Crossfire
This isn’t Walmart’s first brush with political controversy.
Recently, Trump criticized the retail giant for suggesting tariff costs could lead to price hikes, a statement made during a call with investors.
“They should eat those costs, not pass them to loyal customers,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Boycotts, Divides, and Corporate Fallout
Walmart now joins a growing list of corporations, including Target, that have been targeted by boycotts for their positions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The result: sharp profit impacts and a deepening divide between brands and the politically polarized consumers they serve.
A Symbolic Clash Between Wealth and Power
With the Walton family fortune outweighing the GDPs of Hungary and Greece combined, the protest ad embodies a growing trend: ultra-wealthy individuals challenging what they view as creeping authoritarianism in America.
Whether it sparks real change or just more backlash remains to be seen.