Protesters greet Wal-Mart CEO in New York City

Duke, who was being interviewed on Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal at Manhattan's Bryant Park Grill, kept his cool as about 60 people, separated from him by the restaurant's large windows, showed up 20 minutes into the talk to protest the harm they say Wal-Mart does to small businesses and workers.

The protesters, including a brass band and a male Statue of Liberty impersonator leading a rendition of rock group Twisted Sister's anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It," at first were so loud that the audience of business people, city officials and journalists had difficulty hearing Duke talk.

"This is probably just a greeting," Duke said, laughing.

Wal-Mart has struggled through seven straight quarters of declining same-store sales in the United States. It is trying to expand into more U.S. cities to help reverse that trend.

It is planning to open more stores in Chicago, and last year said it would open its first stores in Washington, D.C.

New York has been tougher, despite Wal-Mart's efforts to win over its residents.