Walmart facing furious boycott as billionaire heiress promotes anti-Trump protests amid LA Riots
Walmart is facing a furious boycott by the MAGA world after its billionaire heiress endorsed and promoted an anti-Trump rally amid the raging protests happening in Los Angeles.
Republicans have erupted online after the group 'No Kings' took to social media several times calling President Donald Trump 's response to the protests 'a distraction' because 'he wants to blind us to the chaos and damage he's inflicting nationwide.'
The organization is notably backed by Christy Walton, the widow of John T. Walton, who was one of the sons of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart.
Although Walton, who is worth $19.4 billion, has not publicly spoken out about the protests or Trump, she placed a full-page ad in the New York Times Sunday calling on Americans to stand up 'against aggression by dictators' and 'mobilize' this upcoming Saturday - the same day the president is set to host a military parade in Washington D.C.
The advertisement, which states it was 'paid for by Christy Walton,' went on to list eight beliefs she supports, including that Americans should 'stand by our allies,' 'uphold and defend the Constitution' and 'care for our veterans and children,' among others.
'We are the people of the United States of America. The honor, dignity, and integrity of our country are not for sale. Our government is of the people, by the people, for the people,' the ad, accompanied by an image of the Statue of Liberty, read.
Around the time her advertisement hit the paper, disastrous riots broke out in LA, leading Trump to call on the National Guard and US Marines to take over the growing chaos - sparking an all out fight across the county.
In the midst of the media coverage on the protests, 'No Kings' made several posts on X mentioning the violence and how it disagrees with the president's response.
Around the time her advertisement hit the paper, disastrous riots broke out in LA, leading Trump to call on the National Guard and US Marines to take over the growing chaos - sparking an all out fight across the county
One post read: 'THIS IS A DISTRACTION! Trump deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to LA to crush protests is a smokescreen. He wants to blind us to the chaos and damage he's inflicting nationwide. Don't fall for it – he's hiding much worse!'
Another showed an illustrated image of Trump appearing to look down on a scene of protesters while holding an 'economic report' and what appeared to be pictures of him and Jeffery Epstein.
Walton's ad has visibly left many enraged and offended, leaving Republicans to call for a boycott of the popular retailer.
'Christy Walton from the family who own Walmart is Funding the day of defiance against Donald Trump. Enough is enough do not spend any money at Walmart or you are funding the things that are happening against our federal agents. Walmart is the one or most likely provided the gas masks during the riots,' one user wrote on X.
Another wrote: 'Time to boycott Walmart!'
'Boycott Walmart sounds good to me specially how Christy China Walton is hates America and supports burning the United States Flag and likes people harassing ICE and federal employees,' wrote someone else.
There are expected to be more than 1,800 events linked to the organization across the country Saturday, a No Kings spokesperson Andrew Cook told Forbes.
'On June 14—Flag Day—President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,' the group's website states.
'We're not gathering to feed his ego. We're building a movement that leaves him behind.
'The flag doesn't belong to President Trump. It belongs to us. We're not watching history happen. We're making it.
'On June 14th, we're showing up everywhere he isn't—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings,' it added.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers - one of the organization backing 'No Kings' to organize the anti-Trump protests - told the outlet: 'People from all walks of life support No Kings because our country was founded on the idea that presidents answer to the people – not to authoritarian overreach or violence.'
In regard to Walton's ad, a source told Forbes it ran 'nationwide' and is a 'personal message' from her to urge people 'to engage peacefully and civically in next weekend's events on June 14.'
'Her message promotes peaceful dialogue and the sharing of diverse views and voices,' the source, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
'She condemns violence in all forms and continues to emphasize the importance of listening to one another.'
This is not the first ad Walton has put out, as she posted a similar one in The New York Times in March calling on Americans to engage in the political process.
The advert also depicted an image of the Statue of Liberty with the head 'USA, USA, USA' printed near the torch.
It then went into calls for action, including: 'We honor our commitments and stand by our allies,' 'We defend against aggression and dictators,' 'We respect our neighbors and trading partners' and 'We uphold and defend the Constitution.'
The political ad ends by saying, 'The honor, dignity and integrity of our country is not for sale. Show up, attend your town halls, be civil.'
In response to the uproar her ads have made, Joe Pennington, a Walmart spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We condemn violence, including when it's directed towards law enforcement, and the damaging of property.
'As a company with associates and customers in the Los Angeles region, we remain focused on their safety and that of impacted communities.
'The advertisements from Christy Walton are in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart. She does not serve on the board or play any role in decision making at Walmart.'
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