Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) echoed President Donald Trump's recent attacks on Walmart during an interview with CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin on Monday, warning the mega-retailer to keep the president happy and not pass on the costs of tariff increases to consumers.
"If Walmart decides that they have to raise prices, do you think that's un-American?" asked Sorkin.
"I think they're going to be very careful about how they do this," said Hagerty. "I know they've received criticism from the president. They need to think hard."
Over the weekend, Trump reacted to reports that Walmart was planning to raise prices in response to his harsh new tariffs on practically all foreign goods, with an angry tirade, as it was a direct contradiction to his administration's longtime assurances that tariff costs would somehow be paid by foreign countries and not result in price increases for American consumers.
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"Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. "Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, 'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING."
Even as Trump is pressuring corporations against raising prices on tariffs, he simultaneously appears to be downplaying that this would even be a bad thing, causing controversy for suggesting parents should buy their kids fewer dolls.
