Protecting America Initiative Launches Ad Campaign Calling on State Republicans to Hold Big Retail Accountable for Unnecessarily Raising Prices on American Families and Blaming Trump’s Tariffs
Ad Geotargets Walmart, Home Depot, and National Retail Federation Headquarters
WASHINGTON – The Protecting America Initiative, a coalition of concerned Americans and public policy experts dedicated to combating the growing influence of Communist China in the United States, today announced a new ad campaign urging State Republicans to hold Big Retailers accountable as they look to blame President Trump and his tariffs for the unnecessary price hikes they have recently implemented.
The 45-second ad, “Step Up,” will run on digital platforms geotargeting the headquarters of Home Depot, Walmart, and the National Retail Federation. It begins airing Monday September 8 and will run for at least two weeks. The ad closes with a call to action: “State Republicans step up, hold big retail accountable.”
Recent reports reveal retailers are increasing consumer prices and attributing these hikes to tariffs on China. However, even former Walmart leadership has argued that retailers can absorb tariff costs given their expanded profit margins. Despite this financial flexibility, retail leadership continues to publicly oppose President Trump and blame the self-inflicted rising costs on his America First tariff policy.
This ad campaign follows recent polling from the Protecting America Initiative that shows Americans want State Republicans to take action on this given gridlock in DC.
Key findings from the poll include:
83% of respondents said state lawmakers need to step up to stop retail price gouging because of the current gridlock on Capitol Hill.
80% support mandating price transparency through state legislation that would require companies to justify price hikes around market shocks.
76% want Governors declaring states of emergency and enforcing price-gouging laws.
77% support legislation that would require retailers to disclose the markup they charge on products purchased with SNAP benefits.
TRANSCRIPT:
CLIP: It's a big week for big retail earnings.
CLIP: These earnings do not disappoint.
CLIP: Earnings are still strong.
CLIP: There's been double digit growth for several quarters.
CLIP: And retailers are being very quiet about it.
CLIP: Just in, higher prices at Home Depot.
CLIP: Some retailers like Walmart and Nike are already planning to raise prices.
CLIP: For instance, Walmart, they raised prices on over 1000 items.
CLIP: You know, the big guys – Walmart, Costco, Target – those guys have the supply chain and the sourcing capability to mitigate tariffs.
CLIP: So Walmart has said tariffs could make its margins look better.
State Republicans step up, hold Big Retail accountable!
BACKGROUND:
In July, the Protecting America Initiative launched the six-figure “Screwed” championing President Trump’s China Tariffs that support American farmers and factories.
The Protecting America Initiative released polling in June that found a majority of U.S. voters want retailers to eat the costs of tariffs.
In May, the Protecting America Initiative debuted the six-figure ad “Together,” urging lawmakers to safeguard America’s food supply from the CCP.
The Protecting America Initiative, in April, launched a new policy blueprint of actions Congress can take to combat the CCP at the federal level.
PAI in February launched a major digital ad campaign supporting President Trump’s tariffs on China for their role in the drug crisis that cost countless American lives.
PAI, earlier this year, released a multistate ad calling on Republican state legislators to support President Trump’s agenda by taking action against the urgent threat that Communist China poses to American agriculture.
During the 2024 Presidential Debate, PAI ran a six-figure ad spot across the seven major battleground states, calling to safeguard American manufacturing, food supply, and the Border from the CCP and hitting Kamala Harris for “opening the door to China.”
PAI hosted President Donald J. Trump in September 2024 at a roundtable with Pennsylvania farmers on the need to combat the growing influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on America’s agriculture industry and food supply.
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