With a full-page ad in
The New York Times urging Americans to protest President Donald Trump in the upcoming “No Kings Day” protests, billionaire Christy Walton, heir to some $19 billion of
Walmart founder's family fortune, is putting the world’s biggest retailer back in the political crosshairs.
Walton’s “No Kings Day” ad urges people to mobilize for the
June 14 “No Kings Day” protests, saying, “We defend against aggression by dictators. We uphold and defend the Constitution... The honor, dignity, and integrity of our country are not
for sale.”
Walmart said that Walton has no connection to the company. “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," the company said in a statement to Marketing Daily.
advertisement
advertisement
Walton is the widow of John T. Walton, son of Walmart
founder Sam Walton, and inherited a stake in the company.
While the ad itself doesn’t mention Trump by name, it includes a QR code, directing readers to a No Kings site, allowing
them to sign up for protest training and find local protests scheduled for June 14, which is both Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.
“The flag doesn’t belong to
President Trump,” it says. “It belongs to us.”
Kari Lake, special advisor to the United States Agency for Global Media, responded quickly on X, posting a picture of the ad
with the line: “Do you shop at Walmart?” provoking multiple comments from outraged Trump supporters, many calling for boycotts.
And while the “No Kings” movement is
committed to nonviolence, Walmart's statement also took the opportunity to “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.”
While Walton’s ad doesn’t mention
Walmart, it does touch on trade: “We respect our neighbors and trading partners. We support a healthy national and international economy, community and environment.”
Walmart has
already drawn fire from the White House for comments from the CEO that tariffs from the ongoing trade war will force the retailer to raise prices, passing the cost of tariffs on to consumers.
Trump responded by saying Walmart makes so much money that it should “eat the tariffs.”
Meanwhile, Politico reports that Walmart CEO John Furner was scheduled to address
the weekly Republican Study Committee lunch on Wednesday, the conservative GOP bloc. That came just hours after Trump announced a tentative trade deal with China, lowering tariffs on Chinese imports
to 55%.