United States: against Walmart for what its heiress just did to Donald Trump

Millions of Americans proudly celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Army. However, the Walmart heiress decided to go in the opposite direction. Christy Walton, widow of the son of the founder of the retail chain, invested part of her fortune in a public campaign that sparked a major controversy nationwide.

Walton's gesture consisted of paying for a full-page ad in The New York Times. She invited citizens to mobilize against what she described as a "monarchical" model of government.

The text promoted the so-called "No Kings Day," a day of protest against what its organizers consider an authoritarian drift. It made direct reference to former President Trump. The message, without mentioning his name, coincided exactly with his birthday, which did not go unnoticed.

The conservative outlet American Thinker was one of the first to harshly criticize the heiress. It pointed out that her fortune doesn't come from her own merit, but from her connection to the Walton family.

The article, signed by Richard Blakley, accused Walton of funding a campaign that ended up being associated with violent riots in several cities across the country. In Portland and Salt Lake City, the demonstrations led to clashes with the police, injuries, and even a fatality. In Minnesota, a shooting related to an alleged "No Kings Day" sympathizer further fueled tensions.

Walmart and Its Controversial Heiress

Christy Walton, whose fortune is around $17 billion, clarified in the ad that the opinion expressed was hers alone. However, the impact quickly spread to the company that represents her patrimonial origin. Walmart, through a statement, assured that Walton is not part of its board of directors and has no influence on its business decisions.

Despite this clarification, the outrage was not contained. Figures like Roger Stone, a close adviser to Trump, called for a boycott of the retail chain. "Walmart's heiress subsidizes the insurrection," he wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter), calling for protests in front of the stores.

The root of the problem goes beyond the ad. Many conservatives see this initiative as an act of ingratitude toward the consumer base that sustains the Walton empire. Walmart concentrates a large part of its clientele in the central and southern states, where support for Trump is stronger. "Who do they think pays for her breakfast and dinner?" some ask on social media.

Walmart Prefers Silence

Meanwhile, Walmart keeps a low profile. Although its official stance has been to distance itself from the heiress, the truth is that the Walton family owns about 45% of the shares. Their weight in the brand is undeniable. Some are already questioning whether it is fair to keep supporting with daily purchases those who, from the elite, attack the beliefs of millions of citizens.

The episode reopens an old debate and several questions. Can the political or personal decisions of the heirs of large companies have consequences on consumption? For many conservatives, the answer is a resounding yes. The proposal for a "Day Without Walmart" is beginning to gain traction as a symbolic response to a provocation that, although advertising, has touched a very sensitive nerve among Republican voters.

In an era where every dollar counts as a form of expression, consumers are beginning to consider a decision: keep shopping or punish with the silence of an empty cart.