During ABC News’s This Week, Jon Karl interrupted former Trump economist Kevin Hassett as Hassett repeated President Trump’s claim that Thanksgiving dinner costs are down 25% year-over-year. Karl pointed out that Walmart’s comparison used 21 items last year versus 15 this year, a difference that helps explain the lower advertised price. Hassett defended the broader economic record by citing higher inflation under Biden and recent income gains. The exchange underscores how changes to retailers’ item lists can distort headline price comparisons.
Jon Karl Interrupts Kevin Hassett Over Trump’s Claim That Thanksgiving Is 25% Cheaper — Walmart Comparison Misleading
During ABC News’s This Week, Jon Karl interrupted former Trump economist Kevin Hassett as Hassett repeated President Trump’s claim that Thanksgiving dinner costs are down 25% year-over-year. Karl pointed out that Walmart’s comparison used 21 items last year versus 15 this year, a difference that helps explain the lower advertised price. Hassett defended the broader economic record by citing higher inflation under Biden and recent income gains. The exchange underscores how changes to retailers’ item lists can distort headline price comparisons.
08:00 AM, 11/17/2025Politics
Jon Karl Interrupts Kevin Hassett Over Thanksgiving Price Claim
ABC News correspondent Jon Karl sharply cut off former Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Sunday after Hassett began repeating President Donald Trump’s assertion that a standard Thanksgiving meal is 25% cheaper this year than last.
Earlier this month, President Trump said, "Grocery prices are way down, and Walmart just announced that the cost of their standard Thanksgiving meal — this is the greatest, their greatest. It is 25% lower than one year ago. That’s a big deal." An NBC News reporter later noted that Walmart's calculation this year was based on fewer items than last year’s estimate, a point the president dismissed as "fake news."
On ABC’s This Week, Karl pressed Hassett directly: "So, the president claims that Thanksgiving costs are down 25%. I mean, does he know that’s not true?" Hassett began to respond, citing Walmart and other limited price checks, when Karl interrupted.
Karl: "Now, but wait a minute, wait a minute, I’ve gotta stop you, 'cause the Walmart comparison is not a—I mean, Walmart had a Thanksgiving package last year. They’ve got a Thanksgiving package this year. The one this year contains much less than what the one last year—that’s why the price is less. Look, we’ve got a chart here!"
Karl noted that Walmart compared 21 products last year to 15 this year, which can materially affect the advertised price of a bundled "Thanksgiving meal." He added, "So, I mean Thanksgiving—if you’re going to the store to buy groceries for Thanksgiving, it’s going to be more expensive."
Hassett pushed back by putting the exchange in a broader economic context, asserting that inflation rose steeply under President Joe Biden and has since fallen, and claiming that "real incomes are up after dropping about $3,000 under Joe Biden." Karl interrupted to point out that Trump, not Biden, is the sitting president and questioned why the president was repeating the specific 25% claim.
The exchange highlights how headline retail comparisons can be misleading if the underlying baskets change year to year, and how partisan disputes over inflation and wages are shaping televised political interviews. Watch the clip via ABC News.
Originally reported on Mediaite.