President Trump sharply rebuked an NBC News reporter on Friday after being questioned about Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal promotion, which the president has frequently cited as evidence that his administration is helping bring down prices for American families.
The exchange came after the reporter pointed out that Walmart’s holiday meal, while cheaper than last year’s, includes fewer items and more store-brand products. According to Walmart’s website, this year’s meal serves 10 people for under $4 per person, compared with last year’s offer of eight servings for less than $7 per person.
“Mr. President, since you brought up the Walmart Thanksgiving meal, and it is cheaper but it also contains less,” the reporter began, before Trump cut in. “I haven’t heard that,” he said, interrupting the question. “Who are you with?” When the reporter identified themselves as being from NBC, Trump immediately shot back: “You’re fake news. NBC’s gone down the tubes with most of the rest of them.”
The pointed exchange underscored Trump’s combative relationship with much of the national media, which he has long accused of downplaying positive economic trends and overstating public pessimism. The president’s remarks reflected his broader argument that the press often ignores signs of economic stability and consumer optimism while emphasizing narratives of hardship.
The reporter followed up by asking Trump why there appeared to be a disconnect between the strong economic picture he described and the ongoing concern among Americans about rising costs. “Well, they feel better about our country right now, other than the shutdown obviously, which is caused by the Democrats,” Trump replied. “Could be ended by the Democrats in two minutes.”
Trump’s defense of his economic record comes as he continues to highlight measures that, in his view, demonstrate progress on affordability and supply chain stability. The Walmart Thanksgiving meal example has become one of his talking points in recent weeks — a concrete, relatable image that underscores his effort to show prices are stabilizing after years of volatility under the previous administration.
While critics note that annual inflation rose to 3 percent in September — the same rate as when Trump took office in January — the president has emphasized that his policies are helping temper costs for consumers, particularly in food and energy sectors. Supporters argue that focusing on inflation rates alone misses the broader picture: a resilient economy, low unemployment, and consumer spending that has remained steady even as global markets face strain.
For Trump, Walmart’s promotion fits neatly into his narrative of economic recovery and renewed confidence. The retailer, one of the largest employers in the United States, has also been spotlighted by Trump as a symbol of American business resilience and affordability.
Friday’s clash with NBC served as a reminder of the president’s readiness to challenge media narratives he views as biased — and of his determination to tie his political message to kitchen-table issues that resonate with everyday Americans, even in the form of a Thanksgiving meal.
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