Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the Bud Light transgender influencer controversy for the first time over the weekend, suggesting people perform more boycotts of companies that pursue left-wing agendas.
Trump made the remark while promoting “The Great Patriot BUY-Cott Book” by Wayne Allyn Root, a conservative radio host and author, and Nicky Billou. The book offers a strategy to “DEFUND Leftist Woke Companies” and fund “patriotic” and “Christian” firms.
“Great new Book by Wayne Allyn Root,” Trump, the current leading GOP candidate for president, continued to say in what appears to be his first public comments on the issue. “Buy your copy today!”
The 45th president was responding to a highly visible public backlash against Bud Light after a transgender activist, Dylan Mulvaney, announced a partnership with the beer company. On social media, Mulvaney posted a Bud Light can that featured the activist’s likeness, although parent company Anheuser-Busch has since tried to distance itself from the controversy—and Mulvaney.
Other 2024 Responses
Former Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, has spoken out about the Bud Light partnership with Mulvaney. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is expected to announce his 2024 run in the near future, told RealClearPolitics that a boycott was merited.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a possible 2024 candidate, has also been vocal about supporting the Bud Light boycott.
He added that conservatives “have power as consumers” to make their voices heard on cultural issues. “Not on every company, because sometimes conservative consumers aren’t going to make a dent in some companies,” DeSantis added. “This one is one if you don’t have conservative beer drinkers, you’re going to feel that.”
Although some consumers might opt to look past the Mulvaney partnership, DeSantis argued it’s “part of a larger thing.”
“Corporate America is trying to change our country, trying to change policy, trying to change culture,” DeSantis added. “I’d rather be governed by ‘We the People’ than woke companies. I think [the] pushback is in order across the board including with Bud Light.”
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, has not directly responded to the controversy over Mulvaney. But his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, alleged that the boycott has “[led] to bomb threats” and “has to stop,” without providing direct evidence.
“We should be able to speak out and others should be able to speak out, against hate and discrimination,” she told reporters at a briefing last month.
Bud Light’s overall sales for the week of April 17 plunged by 26 percent, according to reports citing industry data. That came after a 21 percent drop the week prior, and an 11 percent decline the week before that.
The firm will triple its planned investment around Bud Light over the summer, Doukeris told investors last week, adding that it was offering more support to wholesalers and other frontline workers.
