President Donald Trump pointed to Walmart's Thanksgiving dinner as proof that prices are dropping under his leadership, but the claim lacked important context.
bY Kinsey Crowley
After Democrats won big in elections on Nov. 4, many campaigning on cost concerns, Trump amplified his own efforts on affordability.
"We are the ones that have done a great job on affordability, not the Democrats," Trump said Nov. 6 while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, adding: "But we just lost an election, they said, based on affordability."
Trump also took to Truth Social to point out a holiday meal package as evidence of prices falling.
"2025 Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25% lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart," he posted on Nov. 6. "My cost are (sic) lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats 'affordability' issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!"
Is the Walmart Thanksgiving dinner really cheaper?
Yes, but it has fewer items.
In 2024, the Walmart Thanksgiving bundle cost about $53 and included these 21 different products:
Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey, All Natural, 10-16 pounds, Serves 7-11
Great Value Cut Green Beans, Canned Green Beans, 14.5-ounce Can (2 cans)
Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5-ounce Can (2 cans)
French's Non-GMO Kosher Original Crispy Fried Onions, 6.0-ounce Can
Sweet Potatoes Whole Fresh, Each (Batata Mameya) (4x)
Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows, 10-ounce Bag
"JIFFY" Corn Muffin Mix, 8.5-ounce Box (2 boxes)
Fresh Yellow Onions, 3-pound Bag
Fresh Celery Stalk, a bag
Swanson Chicken Broth, 32-ounce Carton
Great Value Poultry Seasoning, 1.5 ounces
Great Value Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn, 15 ounces
Fresh Whole Russet Potatoes, 5-pound Bag
Great Value Brown Gravy Mix, 0.87 ounces (2x)
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce, Canned Side Dish, 14-ounce Can
Marie Callender's Southern Pecan Pie, Thaw & Enjoy Frozen Dessert, 32 ounces (frozen)
Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15-ounce can
Great Value Evaporated Milk, 12 fl ounces
Great Value Frozen Traditional Pie Crusts, Two 9-inch Pie Crust & Pans, 15 ounce
Great Value Frozen Whipped Topping, 8-ounce Tub
Great Value Sweet Hawaiian Rolls, 12 ounces, 12 Count
In 2025, the Walmart Thanksgiving bundle cost approximately $38 and included these 15 different products:
Butterball Turkey, 13.5 pounds ($0.97/lb. — lowest price since 2019)
Kinder’s Fried Onions, 4.5 ounces. (1 bag)
Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5 ounces. (1 can)
Stove Top Turkey Stuffing, Twin Pack 2 x 6 ounces.
Great Value Dinner Rolls, 12 count
Fresh Russet Potatoes, 5-pound bag
Fresh Cranberries, 12 ounces.
Great Value Baby Carrots, 2 pounds.
Great Value Corn, 15 ounces (3 cans)
Great Value Green Beans, 14.5 ounces (3 cans)
Great Value Artisan Macaroni & Cheese, 12 ounces (3 boxes)
Great Value Brown Gravy Mix, 0.87 ounces (2 packets)
Great Value Pie Crusts (2-count)
Great Value Evaporated Milk, 12 fl. ounces (1 can)
Great Value 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 ounces (1 can)
“Walmart’s Thanksgiving bundle this year also includes new items that weren’t in last year’s bundle. Pointless media gotchas won’t change the fact that addressing Joe Biden’s inflation crisis has been a Day One priority for President Trump, who has already lowered prices for essentials like gas and eggs and cooled inflation to an annualized 2.5 percent rate – half the average inflation rate under Joe Biden," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to USA TODAY.
"As the Administration’s robust economic agenda continues taking effect, Americans can count on real wages continuing to increase, investments to make and hire in American continuing to flow in, and for Joe Biden’s lackluster economy to firmly become a distant memory.”
Inflation has risen in recent months. It was at 3% in September, a relatively modest level but above the Federal Reserve's 2% target rate.
USA TODAY also reached out to Walmart for this story.
Polls show Americans think Trump is falling short on the economy
After staying low but stable for months, Trump's average approval ratings hit new lows this week, according to the New York Times and RealClearPolitics aggregators.
Some polls show that he is losing ground in approval of how he is handling the economy.
In an NBC News poll conducted from Oct. 24-28, approximately two-thirds of respondents said the Trump administration has fallen short on the economy and cost of living, a major issue that drove Trump back to the White House, according to NBC.
A CNN/SSRS poll released Nov. 3 found more than 7 in 10 respondents rated current economic conditions as either "poor" or "very poor," with the economy and cost of living identified as the most important issue facing the country by 47% of respondents. A majority, 61%, also said Trump's policies have worsened economic conditions in the country.