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President Donald Trump called for a boycott of Goodyear tires and prompted a response from the company after he urged getting “better tires for far less!”
The president weighed in after reports that the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company had effectively banned employees from wearing MAGA hats and other clothing with slogans such as “Blue Lives Matter.” The company’s alleged policy from an internal “diversity training” presentation was leaked by an employee online.
“Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES—They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS,” Trump tweeted Wednesday. “Get better tires for far less!”
The president added: “(This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).”
Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES – They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020
A photo from a slide allegedly from the company’s corporate office in Akron, Ohio was posted by an anonymous Goodyear employee at a Topeka, Kansas plant. The only “Acceptable” items in the “zero-tolerance” policy were Black Lives Matter, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride materials. On the other side of the panel, Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, “MAGA Attire” and “politically affiliated slogans or material” were deemed “Unacceptable.”
Goodyear bans ‘Blue Lives…All Lives Matter’ and MAGA attire, allows BLM and LGBT gear, only https://t.co/tWsZOpIGfm pic.twitter.com/i3oPwFQn73
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) August 19, 2020
The policy triggered a backlash on social media and the company responded with a less-than-helpful statement, saying it was “committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace where all of our associates can do their best in a spirit of teamwork.”
The hashtag #BoycottGoodyear was the response on Twitter Tuesday as the outcry continued. Trump’s tweet on Wednesday added to the fire as many of the president’s supporters pilloried the company for its supposed ban on Trump-related materials and slogans.
The president himself was attacked, naturally, by liberals who railed on social media about how he has condemned left-wing “cancel culture” but is engaging in it himself.
Not only are Goodyear Tires on the presidential “Beast” limousine, they’re also the official tire of Secret Service https://t.co/zLc2CXKWi1
— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) August 19, 2020
Even the term “cancel culture” began trending on Twitter as a result of the Goodyear kerfuffle.
Very predictable to see cancel culture trending and the left freaking out bc Trump said he was against it and is now telling people not to buy Goodyear.
He’s pointing out that if you’re going to insist on doing it to us, we might as well jump in.
Welcome to the playoffs!
— Alex Clark 💖🇺🇸 (@yoalexrapz) August 19, 2020
Goodyear followed with a statement claiming it “became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company.”
The company insisted that the “visual in question was not created or distributed by Goodyear corporate, nor was it part of a diversity training class,” referring to the slide posted by the employee.
“To be clear on our longstanding corporate policy, Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination,” the company’s statement continued.
“To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues,” Goodyear said.
Yesterday, Goodyear became the focus of a conversation that created some misconceptions about our policies and our company. Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so. pic.twitter.com/oO6jUg2rTR
— Goodyear (@goodyear) August 19, 2020
Asked about why Trump was “jeopardizing American jobs” by tweeting a call to boycott the American company, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Goodyear needed to be more clear about its policies, as she gave vehement praise of law enforcement.
.@PressSec is asked about President Trump calling for a boycott of Goodyear:
“I will stand at this podium and say Blue Lives Matter is an equity issue and Goodyear needs to come out and acknowledge that.” pic.twitter.com/YKET9VryJy
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 19, 2020
The company went on to assert that it appreciates “the diverse viewpoints” of its more than 60,000 associates.
“Fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace is important to establish teamwork and build culture, which is another reason we ask associates not to engage in political campaigning of any kind in the workplace—for any candidate, party or political organization,” the statement read.
“Goodyear has always wholeheartedly supported both equality and law enforcement and will continue to do so,” Goodyear added, insisting that “these are not mutually exclusive.”
“We have heard from some of you that believe Goodyear is anti-police after reacting to the visual,” the company said. “Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have the upmost [sic] appreciation for the vital work police do on behalf of our shared communities.”
“This can’t be said strongly enough,” the statement concluded.
Whether the statement helps Goodyear avoid being “cancelled” – and this time, not by the left – remains to be seen. The fact that the company’s social media post blocked tweets and responses only seemed to anger people more.
Goodyear is lying and they won’t let you reply to them. https://t.co/z8DlhCsuU2 pic.twitter.com/EUXOZpXMme
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 19, 2020
This is gonna be a Bad Year for @goodyear #PatriotsOut
— Art TakingBack 🇺🇸 (@ArtValley818_) August 19, 2020
LOL they disabled the comments. They knew they would have gotten ratioed to the moon over this statement saying they didn’t make it, but the content was basically true. https://t.co/Hc8vtzPSnQ
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 19, 2020
Had no idea you could disable comments on Twitter. Wow. They are idiots. This is what BLM has done to our country. They have strong armed scared companies into bowing to their demands and changing their workplace policies.
It’s insanity.
— Tyler A. 🇺🇸 (@TylerAndersMAGA) August 19, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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