Walmart heiress Christy Walton ignites nationwide MAGA boycott after funding anti-Trump “No Kings” advertisement targeting the President’s upcoming military parade on his birthday.
Key Takeaways
- Christy Walton, who holds only a 1.9% stake in Walmart worth $19.3 billion, sponsored a full-page New York Times ad promoting anti-Trump protests on Flag Day
- The “No Kings” movement plans approximately 1,500 protests nationwide on June 14, deliberately avoiding Washington DC where President Trump has scheduled a military parade
- MAGA supporters have launched a boycott campaign against Walmart, despite the company’s attempts to distance itself from Walton’s personal political activities
- President Trump’s allies, including Kari Lake and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, have publicly criticized Walton’s actions and encouraged the boycott
- Walmart has officially stated that Walton has no active role in company decision-making and that her advertisement is not connected to or endorsed by the retailer
Heiress Uses Family Fortune to Target President Trump
Christy Walton, widow of John Walton and inheritor of part of the Walmart fortune, has sparked intense controversy by funding a full-page advertisement in the New York Times promoting the “No Kings” movement. The advertisement, titled “USA, USA, USA,” calls for nationwide protests against President Trump on June 14 – Flag Day, which also happens to be the President’s birthday. The timing deliberately coincides with Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, DC, escalating tensions between the administration and its critics. Despite her $19.3 billion net worth, Walton holds only a 1.9% stake in Walmart and has no active role in company operations.
The “No Kings” movement, backed by Walton, is organizing approximately 1,500 protests across the country, specifically excluding Washington, DC from their locations. The advertisement included a QR code linking to a map of over 1,800 planned protest sites. According to reports, organizers deliberately avoided the nation’s capital to prevent legitimizing the President’s military parade. The movement claims to oppose what they characterize as authoritarian tendencies in the administration, urging citizens to engage in civil discourse by attending town halls and participating in protests against Trump’s policies.
MAGA Community Responds with Boycott Calls
The advertisement has triggered immediate and forceful backlash from President Trump’s supporters, who have launched a boycott campaign against Walmart. The hashtag #BoycottWalmart quickly gained traction on social media platforms, with some users labeling Walton a “traitor” for her actions. Notable MAGA figures, including Kari Lake, Republican strategist Roger Stone, and members of Congress, have publicly condemned Walton and encouraged supporters to avoid shopping at the retail giant despite its attempts to distance itself from the heiress’s personal political activities.
“Do you shop at Walmart?” Said Kari Lake.
Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna joined the criticism, highlighting the political nature of the advertisement and its connections to left-wing organizing groups. Roger Stone has called for protests outside Walmart locations, potentially escalating the situation beyond social media boycotts. President Trump has previously warned potential protesters at his planned military parade that they would face a “very big force” if they attempted to disrupt the event, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the President supports peaceful protests.
Walmart Attempts Damage Control
Facing significant backlash from conservative shoppers who make up a substantial portion of its customer base, Walmart has quickly moved to separate itself from Walton’s political activities. The company issued statements emphasizing that Walton has no role in company operations or decision-making, despite her family connections and financial stake in the business. Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington made it clear that the company had no involvement with or endorsement of the controversial advertisement.
“The advertisement from Christy Walton [is] in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart”, Said Joe Pennington.
This is not Walton’s first foray into political advertising against the President. She previously placed a New York Times advertisement in March criticizing Trump’s trade policies, which have directly impacted Walmart’s business operations. The retail giant has been caught in the crossfire of the administration’s tariff policies, with Trump urging the company to absorb tariff-related price increases rather than passing them on to consumers. Despite these tensions, Walmart has continued to emphasize its political neutrality while focusing on its business operations during this controversy.
“She does not serve on the board or play any role in decision making at Walmart,” According to Walmart.
