President Donald Trump has lashed out at Goodyear Tire & Rubber over the company asking employees not to wear campaign slogans at work. While the policy doesn't differentiate between liberal or conservative politicians, the President claimed the blanket policy banned hats with the "Make American Great Again" slogan.
The President of the United States urged his followers to boycott tires from the company in retaliation.
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
In the middle of a pandemic where 170,000 Americans died, and MILLIONS are on the verge of homelessness, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT -- Goodyear banning your Made in China MAGA hats???
I might just have to buy their tires now.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) August 19, 2020
But as several people pointed out on Twitter, the President's own limousine uses custom-made, bullet-resistant, run-flat tires from the company.
The boycott comes on the heels of a Goodyear employee sharing a photo with a Kansas news station of a slide from an internal diversity training presentation outlining what types of messaging on clothing items are and are not acceptable in the workplace.
In the presentation, Goodyear stipulates that clothing bearing messages supporting human rights and equality like LGBTQ Pride or Black Lives Matter are acceptable, but anything promoting any political agenda, including the President's slogan "MAGA," is prohibited.
In a statement, Goodyear said it requests employees not express political affiliations in the workplace that fall "outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues" and the policy is meant to prevent discrimination and harassment.
Trump's vitriol toward Goodyear seems to have limits though. Not only does his limo, nicknamed "The Beast," ride on Goodyear tires, but so does the entire fleet of vehicles in his security detail.
Why?
Probably because Goodyear is the only tire brand owned and made in the USA. Goodyear headquarters are in Ohio.
Goodyear's chief competitors are:
• Firestone/Bridgestone (Japan)
• Continental (Germany)
• Michelin (France)
• Pirelli (Italy)
So, you're saying, "Buy anything BUT American?"
— We Will Vote 🌊 (@whitepatrick) August 19, 2020
Trump: I'm going to bring back American manufacturing BIGGLY.
Also Trump: Don't buy from Goodyear, an American company headquartered in Ohio.
— Chip Franklin (@chipfranklin) August 19, 2020
Donald Trump hates it when you buy American.
That's why he's attacking Goodyear, the only major tire manufacturer here.
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) August 19, 2020
For many on Twitter, that made this whole thing seem even more ridiculous.
And reek of hypocrisy.
In response to the news about the tires on his presidential limo and the brand's made in the USA pedigree, the POTUS doubled down rather than rescind his boycott demand.
President Trump: I'm not happy with Goodyear. They're playing politics. pic.twitter.com/IPoEf8FGLC
— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@Woj_Pawelczyk) August 19, 2020
During a press conference, Trump stated:
"I'm not happy with Goodyear because what they're doing is playing politics."
"And the funny thing is that the people who work for Goodyear, I can guarantee you I poll very well with all those great workers in Goodyear."
Scott is a Dayton native and a 2016 Trump supporter who is none too pleased with Trump's recent call to boycott Goodyear Tires.
"I have seen firsthand the destruction and devastation on a weak economy right here in the Heartland, including Northeast Ohio." pic.twitter.com/vD1YDJET5k
— Republican Voters Against Trump (@RVAT2020) August 20, 2020
When asked specifically about replacing the tires on his limo, Trump responded:
"Yeah, I would do that. I would swap them out based on what I heard."
"We'll see what happens."
"You'll have a lot of people not wanting to buy their product anymore."
"They'll buy from a competitor, made in the USA too."
“President Trump doesn't have a clue about the dignity and worth that comes with good-paying union jobs at places like Goodyear — jobs that can support a family and sustain a community," Biden said. https://t.co/XAenJjA4jl
— The Hill (@thehill) August 20, 2020
Trump didn't specify what Goodyear competitors are owned by a US based company or made in the USA.
Trump's Director of the United States National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, also backed the President's call for consumers to boycott a United States manufacturer for a policy that bans both liberal and conservative political attire in the workplace.
JUST IN: Larry Kudlow responds to Goodyear boycott promoted by Trump: "My advice to Goodyear is change your policies." pic.twitter.com/I73nlLuzs0
— The Hill (@thehill) August 20, 2020
Goodyear responded to the initial calls for a boycott, but has not yet responded to the further boycott threats from the President or members of his staff like Kudlow.