Walmart’s Price-Cut Politics: Trump Claims Credit, Sam’s Club Bets on GLP-1 Health Perks

Walmart (WMT) is caught in a political spat over who deserves credit for its price cuts. President Trump claimed on social media that Walmart slashed prices at his administration’s behest, but the retailer says the cuts were planned and executed independently. Meanwhile, Walmart’s Sam’s Club unit is expanding health benefits tied to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, riding a wave of consumer behavior changes driven by the drugs. As of the July 10, 2026 close, Walmart shares were at $113.9, up 1.51% from the prior close of $112.21. With U.S. markets closed for the weekend, the stock is unchanged from that level.

Trump Claims Credit, Sparks White House-Media Clash

On July 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social that Walmart would “at the request of my Administration, dramatically lower prices,” including a 15% cut on beef, as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. Trump called it a “big deal” and said it was great news for millions of Americans struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.^{[The Daily Beast]}

But a Walmart spokesperson later confirmed to The Bulwark that the price cuts had already gone into effect in stores a week before Trump’s post, on June 29. Walmart also issued a statement detailing its iconic “Rollbacks” promotions and Sam’s Club deals — standard summer offerings. The statement mentioned beef and other price cuts but made no reference to Trump or the administration.^{[The Daily Beast]}

The White House hit back hard. Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai responded on X: “The President and Walmart’s statement is that these promotions will run all summer. This is a massive win for Americans. The media’s obsession with destroying any good news for President Trump is pathological.” Desai also suggested the White House was involved, saying the administration “stays in close contact with retailers to ensure cost savings are passed on to American consumers.”^{[The Daily Beast]}

Price Cuts Long in the Works, Tariff Refunds a Key Factor

Walmart executives had been discussing price cuts for months to help consumers with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. CFO John David Rainey said on the May earnings call, “We believe the best return on capital dollars right now is investing in customers and price,” per The Wall Street Journal.^{[The Daily Beast]}

Walmart’s ability to cut prices is partly due to an expected windfall of billions in tariff refunds. In February, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s sweeping import tariffs, giving big retailers like Walmart a financial cushion.^{[The Daily Beast]}

The day after Trump’s post (July 8), The Wall Street Journal reported that a USDA official had called several large grocers, urging them to lower beef prices. But when the official called Walmart, the company said it already had plans to cut prices on beef and other items, effective June 29.^{[The Daily Beast]}

Sam’s Club Expands GLP-1 Health Benefits

Away from the political drama, Walmart’s Sam’s Club is expanding health benefits tied to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. As GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro gain widespread use in the U.S., consumer shopping habits are shifting significantly, per asatunews.co.id.^{[asatunews.co.id]}

PwC data shows that about 21% of U.S. adults have tried GLP-1 drugs. In the U.K., roughly 5% of adults (nearly 3 million people) are currently using them, and 9% have used them. PwC expects that figure to rise to 13% (about 7 million people) by next year.^{[asatunews.co.id]}

These drugs are changing not just diets but shopping patterns. GLP-1 users eat less, shift to healthier foods, and cut alcohol. They also spend more on clothing, skincare, hair products, fitness gear, games, toys, and health-monitoring devices.^{[asatunews.co.id]}

Sam’s Club, Walmart’s membership-based warehouse retailer, is tapping this trend with specific support programs for GLP-1 users. Per USA Today, Hilton Head Health in South Carolina has launched a dedicated GLP-1 support experience, offering customized wellness plans for guests on these drugs.^{[USA Today]}

Wealthy Shoppers Split: Costco Wins High-Income Favor

In contrast to Walmart’s price-cut saga, a new YouGov study reveals diverging shopping preferences by income. Per Newsweek, high-income Americans ($150,000+ annually) are more likely to do most of their grocery shopping at Costco, while middle- and lower-income consumers favor Walmart and Walmart Supercenters.^[Newsweek]

According to the study, 11% of high-income Americans say Costco is their primary grocery store, versus just 5% for middle- and lower-income groups. Trader Joe’s also scores higher with the wealthy: 5% of high-income shoppers name it their top choice, compared with 2% for others. By contrast, 20% of middle- and lower-income Americans say Walmart Supercenter is their main grocer, versus only 8% for the high-income group.^[Newsweek]

The data shows that while Walmart dominates overall retail, it faces a challenge from Costco and Trader Joe’s in attracting higher-income shoppers. Walmart is trying to shore up its position across demographics with price cuts and expanded Sam’s Club health benefits.

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