When President Donald Trump spoke about Thanksgiving this week, it was not the turkey that caught attention. It was the way he described the meal.
“Go to Walmart and other companies, and in every case it’s about 25%, a Thanksgiving meal and surroundings are 25% lower than it was under the Biden administration,” he said. “That’s a big fact, and that comes from Walmart and others.”
Trump shamelessly lies: “Go to Walmart and other companies, and in every case it’s about 25% that a Thanksgiving meal and surroundings are 25% lower. That’s big fact.” pic.twitter.com/Qhp1ahBJph
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 16, 2025
The statement sounded impressive at first, until you look closer. It is not a fact. It is not really impressive. And it does not reflect what shoppers are actually seeing.
The truth is simple. Walmart lowered the price of its Thanksgiving dinner by giving fewer items and switching brand names for cheaper alternatives. People pay less, but they get less too. There is no miracle saving from the White House.
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Then there is the word that made everyone pause. Surroundings.
Some thought he meant the sides. Others just laughed at the choice of word. One could picture someone trying to serve mashed potatoes with a side of “surroundings.”
What’s your favorite “surrounding” during your thanksgiving meal?
— ☘️ JohnJoe (@johnjoe) November 17, 2025
Mmmmm surroundings https://t.co/hXot1PYIuQ pic.twitter.com/Ulb09QVUIt
— Geoff Wolfe (@geoffwolfe) November 17, 2025
Surroundings?
Does shit-for-brains mean sides? https://t.co/Kpq7kvg7FU— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) November 17, 2025
Still trying to figure out what the “surroundings” of a Thanksgiving meal are supposed to be
— Jamie Bonkiewicz (@JamieBonkiewicz) November 17, 2025
wtf are surroundings?
— you voted for it (@MJSinOKC) November 17, 2025
Sides
Not surroundings
And this lie is dumb— Farrah Oxford (@OxfordFarr66929) November 17, 2025
He just called side dishes “surroundings “.
— Jessica Harmon (@goodkitty1969) November 17, 2025
My favorite part of Thanksgiving is dining on all the “surroundings” that accompany the turkey.
— Matt Dominick (@mdominick44) November 17, 2025
It does not help that Trump recently took credit for a Walmart holiday meal basket that feeds 10 people for around $40. It is easy to see why people assumed he meant the food.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
