Walmart faces renewed boycott calls over owner Christy Walton's action - Here's what happened
Walmart is facing a fresh wave of backlash, not for its pricing, but for its proximity to a message that's being seen as a critique of President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) rhetoric. The person at the center of the row is Christy Walton, a billionaire philanthropist and member of the family that owns America's largest retail empire.
Walton's ad in The New York Times called for democratic engagement, as per Newsweek. But for some, it read like a direct shot across political lines.
The message encouraged Americans to show up, speak up, and be civil in political conversations. It was released under the banner of 'No Kings Day,' a symbolic gesture for civic participation and democratic values. There was no mention of any political party. No leader was named in Walmart's advert.
The ad spoke of honoring commitments to allies, protecting against dictators, and respecting trade partnerships-remarks, which many have taken as a veiled criticism of Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy.
The message ended with: "The honor, dignity and integrity of our country is not for sale. Show up, attend your town halls, be civil." The ad stated that the views expressed were 'solely those of Christy Walton."
The ad didn't go unnoticed in conservative circles. Kari Lake, the Trump administration's senior adviser at the US Agency for Global Media, wasted no time in sharing her take. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she posted a photo of the ad with a pointed question: 'Do you shop at Walmart?'
According to Newsweek, she wasn't alone. Other MAGA supporters joined in, advocating for a boycott of Walmart.
As of now, Walmart has made no official comment on the matter. The ad was published under Christy Walton's name, not the company's. Whether the matter will gain real traction or fizzle out remains to be seen.
It encouraged Americans to attend town halls and participate in civic discourse, promoting values like commitment to allies, democratic principles, and respect for global partnerships.
No, the ad didn't name Trump directly. However, its language and themes were widely interpreted as a critique of his foreign policy and "America First" approach.
The ad was placed by Christy Walton, heiress to the Walmart fortune. It clearly stated that the opinions expressed were hers alone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
27 minutes ago
- The Print
Canada's defence spending declaration is a wake-up call for India. US' credibility is low
The issue came to light when spare parts for Denmark's fleet of stealth F-35 combat aircraft were diverted to Israel, which is in the midst of a brutal assault on Gaza. The argument, and contracted at that, is that spare parts belong to the US Defence Department until they are installed on the planes. All future operating software and such updates also remain the sole property of the US, thus severely undermining individual members' sovereignty, and with the patronising attitude of President Trump acting as a wake-up call, Canada has declared its security intentions clearly and emphatically. This 2006 pledge was repeated in 2014 by NATO Defence Ministers, and remains the essential figure for each member country to spend to make the alliance a formidable and globally employable institution. The Russia-Ukraine war has compounded NATO members' anxieties, but it is the erratic nature of policy formulation in Washington that has finally pushed members over the edge. They can't sit idly and be secure about the viability of the US security umbrella. Even as it questions the commitment of individual members towards NATO, the US has attached bizarre contractual conditions on delivered high-end combat equipment. The magic of collective security can be tossed out of the window in a flash, as Canada has learnt from the mercurial behaviour of United States President Donald Trump. And threats from this 'dangerous and divided world' have led Canada to make an executive declaration — to spend '2 per cent of GDP on defence' by the end of the current fiscal year. In doing so, it will match the basic standard figure expounded by the Brussels-headquartered military collective, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Member states, including Canada, pledged in 2006 to hit this figure. Many such powers across the world will have to look within, analyse threadbare, dispassionately, and then predictably come to the same conclusion. That in the current unstable world, made more wobbly by President Trump's policy upheavals, they will also be defined not just by the 'strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength', as current Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently declared. It's obvious, to even the most simple minds, that this can only come from greater defence spending, hence the magic figure of 2 per cent of GDP. This, of course, also includes the overall welfare of soldiers as well as research and development expenditure that contributes to defence. Also read: Victor Gao claims all land north of Ganga for China. People say he's a 'diplomatic fighter' India's position Much has been said about India and its defence expenditure, especially as a percentage of GDP. Like all data-driven debates, analysts are not on the same wavelength when it comes to calculating the precise figures. So if the purpose is to arrive at a reliable figure, in an unsubstantiated environment, it is safest to fall back on the original global institution, the World Bank. And the World Bank chart clearly shows that India's defence spending as a percentage of GDP has been hovering above the magical figure. And has been consistently so for the past few years. India is, of course, the only country that has two nuclear-armed neighbours, both of whom covet Indian territory. It is also the only country that has had armed conflict with these neighbours. And both these countries violate international treaties and norms only to pin down India. This is not an easy task given the current national resolve, emphatically visible during the recently concluded Op Sindoor. Whatever the initial global marketing blitz and hype, post-operation analysis with cool heads has shown reality to be very different. Even the stock market has corrected itself. Global turbulence, and not just of the stock market variety, should, nevertheless, serve as a wake-up call for Indian policy planners to prepare for far greater challenges coming to the neighbourhood. Especially given the fact that the prevailing unity among the democratic order has been subverted. By monetising security agreements at any opportunity, Washington has only lowered its own credibility ratings in the global security sphere. And all this while the world is not sitting idle, especially not those countries that see an opportunity beckoning. For the first time, two Chinese aircraft carriers are now seen operating in different parts of the Pacific Ocean, clearly sending a message as much to Washington as to the rest of Asia. An aircraft carrier, after all, doesn't operate in isolation. It is part of an enormous flotilla of ships, a carrier group in naval parlance. It takes fairly good operational art and extremely impressive military logistics to operate two carrier groups simultaneously. And when deployed in the same oceanic space, it is the simplest message to decipher. As the first part of the Indo-Pacific hyphen, India must lead. Manvendra Singh is a BJP leader, Editor-in-Chief of Defence & Security Alert and Chairman, Soldier Welfare Advisory Committee, Rajasthan. He tweets @ManvendraJasol. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump says 'helped Los Angeles survive' as unrest continues: Top updates
The anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles, which began after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided several businesses on June 6, have now entered their sixth day as the enforcement officers fail to quell the unrest. The protests, which were peaceful at first and began in downtown Los Angeles, soon turned violent as protesters resorted to vandalism. The protest spread to Paramount on June 7, and by June 11, t he anti-immigration protests spread to several cities, including Chicago, Austin, and Seattle, with many more protests lined up for the weekend when US President Donald Trump celebrates his 79th birthday along with the grand military parade, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army. Politics over the Los Angeles protest has intensified as California Governor Gavin Newsom blamed Trump for deploying nearly 5,000 National Guard and members of the US Marines to quell the protest, accusing him of 'misusing his powers'. Newsom, a Democrat, said he believed the deployment of troops was not necessary. However, Trump called these protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy'. With California filing a lawsuit against Trump's use of National Guard troops and the enforcement officers detaining as many as 400 people since June 7, here is a look at the recent developments in the Los Angeles protests: 1. President Trump on Wednesday (local time), while attending the 'Les Misérables' Opening Night at Kennedy Center with First Lady Melania Trump, said that he was proud of the work done in Los Angeles in curbing the riots. He said, 'I am very proud to have helped Los Angeles survive... If we didn't bring the National Guard and the Marines, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground, and that's not over yet... These are radical left lunatics that you're dealing with. They are tough, smart. They are probably paid many of them.' 2. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took to X to announce the extension of the curfew in the downtown area till Thursday morning. A curfew was imposed from 8 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday. She wrote, 'Curfew remains in effect tonight 8 pm - 6 am for downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President's chaotic escalation.' Bass also said, 'Los Angeles will not allow fear to be used as a weapon against Angelenos who make our city strong. My administration is working with community organisations, legal advocates, and local leaders to ensure that every resident knows their rights and has the support they need. This city stands united.' A few simple truths: –Looting an Adidas store isn't justice. –Burning cities isn't speech. – @GavinNewsom isn't a good governor. And what's happening in Los Angeles aren't 'peaceful rallies' — they're third-world insurrection riots on American soil. — The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 11, 2025 3. As demonstrations against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown spread to other states, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CNN that Trump's order to federalise the National Guard in California to respond to the protests could extend to other states. 4. Associated Press reported that the US troops have now started detaining immigrants accused of trespassing on a recently designated national defence zone. Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the troops are prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement on US soil. However, an exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some instances. 5. Dozens of mayors across the Los Angeles area joined hands to demand that the Trump administration stops the raids which have been stepped up since the first protests at downtown Los Angeles began.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
European shares tumble as trade, geopolitical tensions mount
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel European shares dropped on Thursday, in their fourth straight session of declines, as trade optimism stemming from U.S.-China trade talks faded, while mounting geopolitical tensions led to the markets being more pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.4% at 549.41 points at 0707 GMT, while most regional bourses were also in the red.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was willing to extend the deadline for trade talks but it was not likely necessary as the U.S. will send offer letters to countries in a week or markets were a little concerned about the European Union being able to clinch a deal before Trump's July 8 deadline - when the tariff pause worries added more caution to markets already navigating U.S. tariff-driven uncertainty after trade talks with China did not offer a solution to de-escalate longstanding tensions.U.S. personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place" amid rising tensions with Iran, Trump said on the market, travel and leisure stocks were the worst hit, down 1.7%, while industrial miners fell 1.1%.Among stocks, BE Semiconductor Industries (BESI) jumped 7.7% after raising its long-term financial targets ahead of its investor gained 1.3% after Britain's biggest food retailer's domestic sales growth accelerated in its first quarter.
