On Saturday, US President Donald Trump tweeted in support of the boycott of iconic motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson (HOG) following a reception accorded to fan group Bikers for Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The president’s spat with Harley-Davidson brewed when the motorcycle maker said it would shift some of its production abroad in order to tackle the new tariff laws implemented by Trump.
This is not the first time Donald Trump has called for the boycott of a company; in fact, he has a long history of locking horns with various companies. Let’s take a ride down the history lane.
Walmart: Though Trump was not directly involved, #BoycottWalmart trended on Twitter earlier this year after the retail giant was seen selling “anti-Trump” t-shirts. The t-shirts read “Impeach 45” and were priced between $16.95 and $41.95. Following the backlash on Twitter by Trump supporters, Walmart (WMT) removed the item from their stores.
CNN/Fox News/HBO: Trump’s dislike for media houses and journalists is quite well-known. In 2017, Trump urged his followers to stop watching CNN, in a move to halt the proposed merger between its parent Time Warner and AT&T (T). He has often lambasted CNN for allegedly spreading “fake news”.
Earlier in 2015, Trump had boycotted rival Fox News, a unit of 21st Century Fox (FOX) following a disastrous show with host Megyn Kelly. In yet another incident, Trump found a few jokes by HBO hosts John Oliver and Bill Maher in poor taste, and tweeted demanding the boycott of the network.
Apple: Following the San Bernardino shooting in 2018, when Apple (AAPL) refused to unlock the shooter’s iPhone, Donald Trump had publicly called for the boycott of the company. “What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until such time as they give that security number. How do you like that?” Trump said at a rally in South Carolina.
Macy’s/Univision: Macy’s (M) had maintained a strong business relation with Trump, selling his line of men’s wear, watches and cufflinks, besides featuring him in commercials. However, Macy’s decided to cut ties with Trump, when he alleged that most immigrants from Mexico were murderers and rapists. This move enraged Tump, who called for the boycott of the retailer. Spanish television network Univision also ended up at the receiving end of Trump’s wrath after opposing his statements on the same matter.
Related: Harley-Davidson stock falls on Trump backing boycott
Oreo: Donald Trump vowed that he would never again eat Oreo cookies, made by Mondelēz International (MDLZ), after the company announced its decision to shift some of its production to Mexico.
Starbucks/ Glenfiddich: In 2016, Trump declared war against Starbucks (SBUX) as he felt the holiday cups were not adequately Christmas-y. Unlike the earlier years, the cup was plain red with the logo, sans any greetings or snowflake designs. The coffee chain earned the ire of Trump supporters once again in 2017, when its head Howard Schultz announced the decision to hire 10,000 immigrants in five years. The decision was in direct contrast to Trump’s anti-immigration policy.
Back in 2012, Trump banned Scottish whiskey brand Glenfiddich from all his resorts after the company awarded top honors to his well-known rival Michael Forbes.