Trump’s Free Advertising: Taking Credit for Deals Already in the Works

Rampell argues that Trump frequently claims credit for corporate promotions that were already in the works, using Walmart’s preplanned summer rollbacks and beef-price cuts discussed with the USDA as a case study; Walmart says the changes were planned independently, while Trump’s post shows how political messaging can shape public perception and intimidate firms, a pattern the piece notes across other examples (DoorDash, McDonald’s, an aluminum plant, and more). The column contends this dynamic undermines free markets and democratic norms, and it closes by advocating for transparency and supporting Bulwark’s pro-democracy stance.