- Christy Walton, an heir to the Walmart fortune, placed a nonpartisan ad in the New York Times urging Americans to uphold national dignity, respect allies, and engage in civic discourse. Many saw this as a response to Trump’s foreign policies.
While the tech titans of the U.S. were quick to declare their banners for the Trump administration, billionaires in the wider political spectrum have been somewhat more cautious.
Yet it seems that one of the heirs to the Walmart fortune has quietly entered the political discourse, with a reminder that the dignity of the American nation is not up for sale.
Christy Walton, 76, is worth an estimated $17.8 billion, having married into the Walmart dynasty. Her husband was John Walton, son of the grocery giant’s founder Sam. He died in a plane crash in 2005 with his widow inheriting a portion of his shares.
This weekend, the billionaire placed an ad in the New York Times, making it clear that the “views represented here are solely those of Christy Walton.”
The ad, first reported by Bloomberg and depicting an image of the Statue of Liberty, is a paid political advertisement headed “USA, USA, USA.”
Photographs of the ad were shared on social media. Among the calls to action are: “We honor our commitments and stand by our allies,” “We defend against aggression and dictators,” and “We respect our neighbors and trading partners.”
A person familiar with Walton’s motive told Bloomberg that the message is intended to be nonpartisan and encourage people to express their opinions.
The piece ends: “Show up, attend your town halls, be civil.”
Given Walton’s call for respect for America’s trading partners, many are connecting the dots between the missive and recent actions from the White House.
Since President Trump took office, foreign policy between America and its key trading partners has shifted: Tariffs have been imposed on China as well as Canada and Mexico, sparking retaliation from Uncle Sam’s neighboring countries.
President Trump and his administration have also repeatedly jibed that Canada will become its “51st state,” as well as questioning the sovereignty of Greenland. Trump has claimed that he will acquire the nation “one way or the other” for the U.S., which has outraged politicians in Denmark, as Greenland is part of the nation’s kingdom.
President Trump has also ruffled feathers overseas following a public spat with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Fortune did not receive a response from the contact details provided on Christy Walton’s advertisement.
Walton’s philanthropic work
Both Christy and her son Lukas Walton have turned their attention to philanthropic work focused on sustainability and the environment.
Christy founded iAlumbra (InnovacionesAlumbra), which focuses on bringing together commercial and charitable entities to strengthen community engagement, economies, and land and ocean environments.
This includes work such as improving ocean vitality, cultivating land and water resources to keep up with population change, and building community well-being.
Christy also reportedly cohosted a fundraiser in Jackson Hole, Wyo., for former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign run. Per Bloomberg, tickets for the event ranged from $1,250 to $100,000.
Her son, Lukas, founded Builders Vision in 2014, which invests in and advocates for businesses solving sustainability challenges across oceans, food and agriculture, and energy sectors.
Lukas, who also inherited a significant stake of Walmart in his father’s will, is worth an estimated $36 billion.
Currently only two members of the Walton family, Steuart Walton and Gregory Penner, serve on Walmart’s board.
