Bernie Sanders Rips Walmart Over $37.6 Billion Buybacks as Workers Rely on Medicaid, SNAP: 'The Real Welf

Sen.

Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized Walmart Inc (NASDAQ:WMT) on Thursday over its stock buybacks and employee wages, while taking aim at the wealth of the retailer's founding Walton family.

In a post on X, Sanders said Walmart has spent $37.6 billion on stock buybacks since 2020, an amount he said would have been enough to give each of the company's workers a $23,550 bonus.

Sanders also claimed that Walmart pays wages low enough that many employees rely on taxpayer-funded Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

He described the Walton family, which he said is worth $485 billion, as the "real welfare queen." Since 2020, Walmart spent $37.6 billion in stock buybacks—enough to give all their workers a $23,550 bonus.Instead, Walmart pays wages so low that many of their workers need Medicaid & SNAP paid for by taxpayers.The real welfare queen is the Walton family worth $485 billion.— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 23, 2026 Walmart Authorized $30B Buyback Walmart in February approved a new $30 billion share repurchase program and raised its annual dividend by 5% to 99 cents per share, marking its 53rd consecutive year of dividend increases.