President Donald Trump’s effort to show off his economic success took an awkward turn this week after a reporter fact-checked one of his favorite claims right to his face.
For days, Trump has been praising Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving meal bundle, saying it proves that prices are lower under his leadership. Speaking at the American Business Forum on Wednesday, he proudly said the company’s Thanksgiving dinner was now “25% cheaper than last year.”
“It’s 25% lower than one year ago,” Trump said. “That’s a big deal.”
At first, the message sounded like good news for shoppers. But when reporters looked closer, they found something Trump didn’t mention. The meal is cheaper this year because it includes fewer items.
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According to Walmart’s announcement, the 2025 bundle costs just under $40 and serves 10 people, while the 2024 version cost $56 and served eight. However, this year’s package contains only 23 items compared to 29 last year.
Some familiar favorites didn’t make the cut. Onions, celery, sweet potatoes, chicken broth, muffin mix, marshmallows, whipped topping, and pecan pie are all gone. Even the cream of mushroom soup dropped from two cans to one.
In its press release, Walmart described the meal as its “most affordable holiday dinner yet.” The company said it feeds ten people for less than $4 per person — the lowest price since the program began.
When NBC News asked Trump about the smaller meal on Friday, the president appeared surprised. “Well, I haven’t heard that,” he said, before cutting the reporter off with, “Who are you with? Fake news.”
However, federal data tells a different story. Food prices have gone up 3.1% in the past year, and consumer prices overall are still rising. Inflation has slowed from its highs in 2022, but remains above pre-2024 levels.
Recent polling also shows voters aren’t feeling the improvement Trump keeps talking about. An NBC News survey found that only 34% of Americans believe he has lived up to their expectations on the economy.
Democrats have been gaining ground by focusing on affordability concerns. In this week’s elections, they scored key wins in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York — all states where cost of living was the top issue.
You can watch the full exchange here.
Featured image via X screengrab
