Walmart Warns of Potential Price Hikes Despite Trump's Tariff Pushback

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently acknowledged that Walmart may pass along some costs from President Trump's tariffs to consumers, despite Trump's warnings against price increases. In a conversation with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on May 18, 2025, Bessent indicated that while Walmart would absorb some tariff costs, others might reach shoppers. He emphasized that declining gasoline prices, currently averaging around $3.18 per gallon, would help offset potential price increases for consumers.

This admission comes just one day after President Trump publicly told Walmart to "eat the cost" of his tariffs rather than raising prices. The Treasury Secretary attempted to downplay inflation concerns, suggesting that overall inflation would remain "in line" despite potential price increases at America's largest retailer.

Bessent has been actively promoting the administration's economic agenda. On May 19, he released a statement praising House Republicans for making "strong progress toward enacting President Trump's economic agenda" following a successful vote on reconciliation legislation by the House Ways & Means Committee. He highlighted efforts to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent while implementing new measures to benefit "hardworking Americans."

Earlier this month, Bessent testified before the House Financial Services Committee, where he outlined the administration's approach to international economic leadership. During his May 7 appearance, he emphasized that "America First does not mean America Alone" and stressed the importance of expanding U.S. leadership in institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

Bessent described the core components of Trump's economic vision as "trade, tax cuts, and deregulation," calling them "interlocking parts of an engine designed to drive economic growth and domestic manufacturing." He pointed to the addition of 464,000 new jobs in the administration's first 100 days as evidence of early success.

The Treasury Secretary has also been vocal about fiscal policy, warning about excessive government spending and describing the U.S. economy as healthy but "brittle underneath" due to government intervention. He has assembled a team at Treasury focused on spending reduction, with Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender noting that "the government's gotten larger" with "hundreds of billions of dollars per year in excess of what's explained by inflation and population growth."

On trade issues, particularly regarding China, Bessent has positioned himself as a moderating influence within the administration while maintaining support for Trump's tariff policies. He recently stated that both the U.S. and China prefer to de-escalate their ongoing trade tensions, placing responsibility on China to take steps toward resolution.