For several days now, Mr Donald Trump he cites as an example the “special Thanksgiving basket” – the great American holiday – of the supermarket chain Walmart on USAto demonstrate that prices are falling during his tenure.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday (07.11.2025), Donald Trump celebrated this “success” in the US, while attacking Joe Biden’s account: “This year, Thanksgiving will cost 25% less than last year, sleepy Joe Biden; it’s a big difference,” he said, arguing that the Walmart basket “includes everything you need for Thanksgiving.”
According to him, this decrease is “characteristic of the rest of the prices as well”, going so far as to praise the reduction in energy costs… at a time when, as Axios notes, energy prices are rising faster than inflation.
According to Walmart, a 2025 meal for ten people will cost $4 per person, down from $7 for eight people in 2024. That’s a dramatic reduction at a time when food prices remain high and millions of Americans still don’t know if they’ll receive SNAP food stamps for the month of November.
A cheaper meal… because it’s poorer
Behind this impressive argument, the reality is less flattering. Walmart’s 2025 “bundle” is indeed cheaper, but it’s also less rich. The meal includes 23 products, compared to 29 last year. And some of the items that remain are offered in smaller quantities, such as fried onions or cream of mushroom soup.
Many traditional ingredients have simply disappeared from the basket: no more spring onions, celery or sweet potatoes. Also removed are chicken broth or seasoning, marshmallows, and even pecan pie. The distributor also made substitutions: instead of brand-name cranberry sauce, the basket now includes cheaper fresh cranberries; the well-known “Hawaiian rolls” have been replaced by simple, nameless buns.
When a reporter asked about this “downsizing”, Trump dismissed the question as “fake news”. In a statement sent to Axios, the White House responded that Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving basket also includes new items that were not in last year’s package, such as macaroni and cheese, carrots and an extra can of green beans. “The meaningless ‘tricks’ of the media do not change the fact that dealing with the inflationary crisis that Joe Biden bequeathed has been a priority since day one for President Trump,” said a spokesperson. Joe Biden’s team, for its part, did not respond to questions from Axios.
An economic reason in disharmony with social reality
As the White House trumpets its “cheaper Thanksgiving,” the Trump administration is simultaneously battling in court to keep November’s SNAP payments from paying out. These boosts are vital to the 42 million Americans, including many seniors and children, who depend on these amounts for basic sustenance.
On Thursday, a judge ordered the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to disburse the funds starting Friday. But the government refused to comply, immediately filing an urgent appeal to block the decision. In practice, millions of poor households are left in limbo and at risk of not being able to finance their own holiday table, while the White House celebrates a “cheap menu” offered by a major supermarket chain – in exchange for smaller portions and a noticeably poorer basket.