Under Armour CEO Faces Backlash for Trump Support
OutdoorHub Reporters 02.08.17
Under Armour finds itself back in hot water after CEO Kevin Plank recently showed his support for President Donald Trump.
We saw many hunters take a firm stance against Under Armour when the company stopped sponsoring Sarah Bowmar for a controversial video of her husband, Josh Bowmar, hunting a bear with a spear.
In an interview with CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report,” Kevin Plank stated, “To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country.” That statement came in response to a question from CNBC anchor Scott Wapner about Plank’s involvement in Trump’s Manufacturing Jobs Initiative.
Plank’s remarks faced immediate backlash and a “Boycott Under Armour” hashtag swiftly started bouncing around social media. All for showing support for the President. . .
Under Armour released a lengthy statement to clarify Plank’s response and the position of the company:
“At Under Armour, our culture has always been about optimism, teamwork, and unity. We have engaged with both the prior and the current administrations in advocating on business issues that we believe are in the best interests of our consumers, teammates, and shareholders. Kevin Plank was recently invited at the request of the President of the United States, to join the American Manufacturing Council as part of a distinguished group of business leaders. He joined CEOs from companies such as Dow Chemical, Dell, Ford, GE, and Tesla, among others to begin an important dialogue around creating jobs in America. We believe it is important for Under Armour to be a part of that discussion.
“We have always been committed to developing innovative ways to support and invest in American jobs and manufacturing. For years, Under Armour has had a long-term strategy for domestic manufacturing and we recently launched our first women’s collection made in our hometown of Baltimore, MD. We are incredibly proud of this important first step in the evolution of creating more jobs at home.
“We engage in policy, not politics. We believe in advocating for fair trade, an inclusive immigration policy that welcomes the best and the brightest and those seeking opportunity in the great tradition of our country, and tax reform that drives hiring to help create new jobs globally, across America and in Baltimore.
“We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders, and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences, and opinions. This is the core of our company. At Under Armour, our diversity is our strength, and we will continue to advocate for policies that Protect Our House, our business, our team, and our community.”
