• Walmart says a key Trump policy has worked.
  • The company has invested in the U.S.
  • Walmart admits some costs have increased.

Most CEOs avoid politics. If you make a statement, even a seemingly benign one, that seems to favor one party over the other, you run the risk of being labeled one way or the other.

Target, for example, ended up embroiled in the political debate over gender when it decided to add a one-person, non-gendered bathroom in its stores. That bathroom was open to shy people, people with special needs, and anyone who wanted to use it.

The right-wing audience looking to label the company “woke” didn’t take it that way.

There’s no real standard for how making any political move can come back to bite you. Target selling Pride merchandise is a political statement, while Walmart doing it is smart business.

It’s not just right-wing partisans acting this way. Left-wing activists have their own list of companies to avoid, some of which may deserve it, and others that may just be trying to serve their customers.

There’s a massive difference between a company that takes a stand against a group of potential customers and one that leans into serving a specific group. Black Rifle Coffee, for example, is highly patriotic and pro-military in its messaging, but it’s also welcoming to everyone.

That’s very different than say, Hobby Lobby donating money to groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups. 

Now, the head of Walmart U.S., CEO John Furner, has made some statements that put his company at risk for political backlash.

Walmart U.S. CEO supports President Trump’s policy

It’s fair to say that President Donald Trump is a polarizing figure.

This is something that has been said by people who used to serve in his cabinet.

“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us,” former Defense Secretary James Mattis wrote in an open letter.

Mattis has bones to pick with his former boss, and certainly is not impartial. Still, it’s fair to say that being pro-Trump or anti-Trump is a risky decision for any business.

That makes Furner’s recent comments risky, even if they’re not overtly political.

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Furner spoke in favor of the broad impacts of Trump’s tariffs.

“Investing in U.S. manufacturing and U.S. operations, sure, it’s great for business, but it’s also great for employment. It’s great for jobs. It’s great for the country, and it helps us with our supply chain being flexible and dynamic,” he told CNBC’s Invest in America Forum, the Daily Mail reported.

Furner said over 60% of Walmart’s goods are sourced from American companies operating on U.S. soil.

Walmart has sourced more items from the United States.

Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

Does Walmart support tariffs?

Essentially, the Walmart executive said tariffs have forced companies, including his own, to invest in U.S. production.

He cited a new beef processing facility in Olathe, Kansas, that will create over 600 jobs for Americans. 

“It’s a big investment, and having quality products that are sourced in a more sustainable way that can deliver to customers is really important,” Furner said.

The Walmart U.S. CEO, however, made it clear that tariffs on foreign goods have also increased costs. He explained that his company needs to source globally.

We source from all around the world. There are things that are grown around the world that tend to do better in other climates, you know, coffee might be an example…I think there are a lot of possibilities.

Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner

Companies involved in political scandals under Presidents Trump and Biden

Here are just some of the many companies that have faced political pushback over the past few years:

  • Ben & Jerry’s/Unilever: Faced allegations that Unilever quietly ousted the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, or pressured removal, because of the brand’s progressive social mission — including statements about Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, protests, and critiques of Trump administration policies. Source:The Washington Post
    Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Jerry Greenfield recently quit, saying the brand’s ability to speak freely on political or social issues has been stifled under Unilever’s ownership. Source: AP News
  • Bud Light/Anheuser-Busch: In 2023, Bud Light experienced a major conservative backlash and boycott after a promotional collaboration with Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer. Sales dropped significantly; executives were put on leave.
  • Target: Saw backlash over Pride Month merchandise and “tuck-friendly” swimwear, etc., for kids, which critics said were political or social agenda-related. The company saw drops, public criticism, and pressure from conservative groups.
  • Starbucks: Faced criticism and boycott efforts connected to pro-Palestinian statements/actions from its workers’ union “Starbucks Workers United,” and over how the company responded to those statements or whether it should have allowed them.
  • Molson Coors: In 2024, Coors stopped participating in the Equality Index and removed supplier diversity quotas, saying such standards were influenced by factors beyond its control. This was seen by many as a reaction to President Trump’s politicization of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).