### Thanksgiving Meal Costs: Trump's Claims Under Scrutiny As Thanksgiving approaches, the cost of holiday meals has become a focal point in political discourse. President Donald Trump has recently asserted that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is down by 25% this year, attributing this to a promotional meal basket from Walmart. However, this claim is misleading as it overlooks critical details about the contents and pricing of the meal basket compared to previous years. Notably, grocery prices overall have risen by 2.7% since 2024, complicating the narrative of decreasing costs for consumers [https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-thanksgiving-meal-cost-discounts-0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942]. ### Breakdown of Trump's Claims and Their Implications 1. **Claim of Decreased Costs**: Trump states that Thanksgiving meal costs are down 25% this year, based on Walmart's promotional meal basket [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/donald-trump-walmart-viktor-orban-facts-ceo-b2861183.html]. 2. **Misleading Comparisons**: The 25% decrease is attributed to a basket that contains fewer items than last year's offering, which skews the perception of overall meal costs [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/07/trump-walmart-thanksgiving-price-turkey/87143379007]. 3. **Economic Context**: While Trump equates the Walmart meal deal with broader economic indicators, grocery prices have actually increased, contradicting his assertion of overall affordability [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-appears-equate-walmart-thanksgiving-meal-deal-economic/story?id=127273697]. 4. **Public Perception**: The framing of the meal cost as a success story for Republican-led economic policies may mislead the public regarding the true state of food prices and economic conditions [https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/fact-checking-trump-s-claims-about-cheaper-walmart-thanksgiving-meal-251532869783]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Walmart's Meal Basket**: The promotional Thanksgiving meal basket is priced at approximately $40, designed to feed 10 people, but includes fewer items than in previous years [https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/is-walmart-cutting-prices-for-thanksgiving-dinner-by-25-trumps-claim-fact-checked-article-153107918]. - **Grocery Price Trends**: Overall grocery prices have increased by 2.7% compared to 2024, indicating that while one specific meal option may be cheaper, the general trend is upward [https://www.alternet.org/trump-thanksgiving-prices]. - **Consumer Impact**: Many families are expected to face higher prices for traditional Thanksgiving staples, which contradicts the narrative of lower costs [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/donald-trump-walmart-viktor-orban-facts-ceo-b2861183.html]. ### Conclusion: Analyzing the Claims In summary, while President Trump's assertion that Thanksgiving meal costs are down 25% may resonate with some, the reality is more complex. 1. **Misleading Statistics**: The claim is based on a specific promotional meal basket that is not representative of overall grocery costs [https://krdo.com/news/2025/11/06/fact-check-cheaper-walmart-thanksgiving-meal-touted-by-trump-has-fewer-items-than-last-years]. 2. **Rising Prices**: General grocery prices have increased, which undermines the narrative of affordability [https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-thanksgiving-meal-cost-discounts-0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942]. 3. **Public Awareness**: It is crucial for consumers to be aware of the broader economic context when evaluating claims about food prices, especially during significant holidays like Thanksgiving [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/07/trump-walmart-thanksgiving-price-turkey/87143379007]. By critically examining these claims, consumers can better navigate the complexities of holiday meal pricing and the economic narratives presented by political figures.