By Donald Trump is facing some heat from conservatives. In April 2023, conservatives launched a boycott of the beer brand Bud Light after a marketing executive at the the company attacked conservatives who like to drink the beer as not being “inclusive and diverse” as the company launched a partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
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The New York Times reported that “calls for a boycott followed. Some of the most prominent voices backing it have attacked the transgender community in the past, including the musician Kid Rock, who posted a video of himself shooting a stack of Bud Light cases in April. TMZ published photographs of him drinking Bud Light at a concert in August.
After Bud Light’s sales slumped, Anheuser-Busch, the beer’s brewer, announced in late April that two of its executives were taking a leave of absence. The company also said in early May that it would focus its marketing campaigns on sports and music.”
A year after launching the first and most successful conservative boycott in decades, the former president has capitulated, saying on Truth Social that conservatives needed to give Bud Light a “second chance.”
It’s easy to see why Trump took the action he did. Anheuser-Busch realized that the best way to the former president’s heart is through his pocketbook.
Trump’s post on Truth Social represents a major attempt at deescalation in a long-simmering feud between the political movement the former president leads and the mega corporation since April 2023, when it came under fire for a sponsored post with a transgender influencer, according to Politico.
Trump’s message also comes as a top Republican lobbyist for the company is set to host a fundraiser for the former president next month, with some tickets going at $10,000 each.
Jeff Miller, a close confidant of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy who built his Washington business during the Trump years, announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that he would be hosting the fundraiser. The event is set to feature dozens of members of Congress and Republican leadership, as well as Donald Trump Jr.
Anheuser-Busch was criticized and boycotted by conservatives after it sponsored the post from a transgender influencer, who was promoting Bud Light. For almost a year, the company has drawn widespread condemnation from the MAGA influencers and Republican politicians. It even found itself in a congressional probe over allegations it was marketing beer to children. The drumbeat has continued up through last week, with conservatives targeting Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, who has been a prominent Bud Light spokesperson.
To back the calls to drink Bud Light the Trump campaign appeared to send out their own transgender influencer to offer support for the former president’s comments.
"Bud Light screwed up by working with a trans influencer, but they're not woke. To prove it, here's a message from OUR trans influencer" https://t.co/SheopHKVkd
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) February 7, 2024
New Conservative Post previously noted that the Trump Family owns millions of dollars in Bud stock.
“The Trump family, which owns roughly $5 million in stock in Anheuser-Busch, also came out against the current Bud Light boycott. Business Insider reported, “Donald Trump Jr. is calling for the end of a conservative-led boycott against Bud Light, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch, over the parent company’s partnership with the trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
During an April 13 broadcast of his “Triggered” podcast, the eldest son of former President Donald Trump addressed the controversy that has become a new cultural front in the political right’s increasingly vocal criticism of transgender issues and the conservative push to pass legislation restricting gender-affirming care.
Trump Jr., who frequently rails against what he deems as “woke” influences in American society, is usually fighting alongside conservatives on many issues, but he broke away from the movement as it related to Anheuser-Busch.
“I’m not for destroying an American, an iconic company, for something like this. The company itself doesn’t participate in the same leftist nonsense as the other big conglomerates,” he said, arguing that Anheuser-Busch had a conservative lean in their political donations.”
The former president’s comments have angered conservative activists who feel betrayed.
We managed to organize the first effective conservative boycott ever. Nobody has given any good reason why we should surrender now without an apology or concession. Anheuser-Busch isn’t even an American company. We would be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the sake…
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) February 7, 2024
If you think the guy who will fold to Bud Light because he owns a bunch of stock is going to hold his ground on every issue you care about when faced with actual pressure, good luck.
As I've been saying, no politician is coming to save you. Plan accordingly.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) February 7, 2024
Lol. Just lmao.
1. Conservatives boycott Bud Light bc of Dylan Mulvaney ad. Anheuser-Busch revenue drops 10%
2. Trump owns ~$5M in Anheuser-Busch stock
3. Trump claims Anheuser-Busch is "not a woke company" and asks voters to give AB a "second chance" pic.twitter.com/V9kBjCDaLz
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) February 6, 2024
The Babylon Bee, a satirical conservative news site, went as far as to joke that Trump had named Mulvaney vice president.
Trump Endorses Bud Light, Names Dylan Mulvaney As Running Mate https://t.co/MJ5OAfBsxR pic.twitter.com/jCS9yCgaIw
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) February 7, 2024
Anheuser-Busch CEO Michael Doukeris stated in an October earnings call that its U.S. sales fell 13.5 percent during the third-quarter of 2023, which he blamed partly on lower Bud Light sales. He added that the company’s research found that its customers “want their beer without a debate.”
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