President Donald Trump is claiming credit for Walmart’s recent price cuts, though the retailer’s statement doesn’t mention his administration’s involvement. Trump faces backlash over inflation, which rose after his tariffs and the Iran war’s impact on energy costs.

He blames Democrats for the ongoing issue. In a social media post Monday, Trump says Walmart lowered prices at his request to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. However, Walmart’s statement describes the cuts as a seasonal strategy, with no mention of government interaction. Inflation has climbed 4.2% over the past year, higher than the rate Trump inherited.

Trump rings Wall Street, opening bells from DC

President Donald Trump has rung the opening bells for the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq from the Oval Office. It’s a symbolic act that reflects how Trump has increasingly tied his presidency to the stock market.

Trump said Monday after formally launching the start of trading he thinks “the market’s going to go through the roof.” High inflation has hurt Trump’s popularity, so the Republican president has tried to get more Americans to focus on their 401(k) investments as the November midterm elections draw closer. Monday’s event was aimed at promoting the launch of Trump Accounts to give kids access to investing.

Ex-civil rights agency commissioner drops suit

A former Democratic commissioner of one of the country’s top civil rights agencies has dropped a lawsuit challenging her dismissal by President Donald Trump. Jocelyn Samuels cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that dramatically enhanced the president’s power over independent agencies.

Trump’s unprecedented dismissal of two Democratic commissioners from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cleared the way for his shake-up of civil rights enforcement. The EEOC moved forward with aspects of that plan Monday, releasing a regulatory agenda that would end annual collection of workplace demographic data and rescind guidance warning that it may be discriminatory to require workers to exclusively use English.

Alberta, Ontario propose pipeline to carry oil to east

The premiers of Alberta and Ontario have proposed a pipeline to carry western Canadian oil to the country’s east as Canada seeks new markets. Alberta’s premier says the proposed pipeline would run from Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario, carrying up to 500,000 barrels of oil a day with potential for up to 800,000 barrels.

Smith says the corridor could eventually be extended to Canada’s Atlantic coast, opening the door to oil exports to Europe. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the pipeline would be a sound investment regardless of whether it is publicly or privately financed. A feasibility study is planned.

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs, including many at Xbox

Microsoft has announced it is cutting 4,800 jobs, including many in its Xbox division. This represents about 2.1% of its global workforce. The layoffs include 1,600 Xbox workers, with more expected this year. The move is part of a broader reorganization to “reset” Xbox amid increased competition.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who took over earlier this year, said the business is not healthy. She noted that Xbox is operating at margins significantly lower than its competitors. Sharma also highlighted that the industry is facing a severe hardware crisis.