By Walmart’s recent decision to lay off 1,500 employees has led to online backlash. Many MAGA supporters are spreading false claims. They say the company is replacing American workers with H-1B visa holders. Some users even targeted Walmart’s CTO Suresh Kumar, who is of Indian origin, without any proof.
Walmart Confirms Layoffs as Part of Restructuring
According to Bloomberg, the layoffs are part of a restructuring plan. The goal is to improve efficiency and speed up decision-making. The affected roles include jobs in e-commerce, Walmart Connect, and other departments. These are not limited to the tech team, which often hires H-1B workers.
Social Media Reactions Filled with Misinformation
Some users on X (formerly Twitter) pushed false narratives. One post said, “Walmart is laying off tech workers to hire H-1Bs.” Another wrote, “1500 layoffs? How many H-1B workers are they hiring next?” These comments stirred fear and resentment.
Political Angle Added to the Issue
The topic became political. One person wrote, “Walmart is replacing Americans with H-1Bs. Trump is failing us again.” This claim is misleading. In fact, H-1B visas are issued only for high-skill jobs.
Walmart’s Use of H-1B Visas is Normal
Walmart has thousands of H-1B approvals. That is expected for a company of its size. It employs 1.6 million people in the US and 2.1 million globally. The departments affected by layoffs are not the ones that usually hire H-1B workers.
Business Restructuring is the Real Reason
These job cuts are part of Walmart’s larger strategy. In February, it closed its North Carolina office. Teams are now being moved to California and Arkansas. In April, Walmart raised prices due to Trump-era tariffs on Chinese imports.
Company Leaders Respond
A memo from CTO Suresh Kumar and Walmart US CEO John Furner confirmed the reason behind the layoffs. They said it’s a long-term move to improve the business — not to hire foreign workers.
