Politics

Donald Trump Might Boycott Starbucks Including One he Owns

Ruth Kamau  ·  January 25, 2015

New York, Jan. 25, 2015 – Donald Trump, the brash real estate mogul and TV personality, stirred up a fresh controversy by hinting he might steer clear of Starbucks, even the one he owned in his Trump Tower building. It was a classic Trump move, full of bluster and irony, as he took aim at the coffee giant over what he saw as their liberal leanings or maybe just a bad business call. Back then, Trump wasn’t shy about picking fights, and this one landed right in the middle of his growing list of public beefs.

The spat seemed to stem from Starbucks’ recent decisions, like their push for more inclusive holiday cups or comments on social issues that didn’t sit well with conservative crowds. Trump, ever the outspoken critic, blasted the company on social media and in interviews, calling it unpatriotic or out of touch. He didn’t hold back, saying something along the lines of, “If they’re going to play politics, I’m out.” It was hard not to chuckle at the absurdity—here was a billionaire owner threatening to boycott his own property, which just highlighted how personal these clashes could get for him.

Of course, the idea of Trump boycotting Starbucks raised eyebrows because of that Trump Tower location. Reports suggested he had a financial stake in it, making his threat feel a bit like shooting himself in the foot. Folks online jumped on it, with memes and jokes flying around faster than a barista could make a latte. It painted a picture of Trump’s world, where business and ego often collided in messy ways.

In the end, not much came of it—Trump didn’t follow through in a big way, as far as anyone could tell. But the episode showed how he used these moments to rally his base and grab headlines, a tactic that would define his later political run. It was just another day in the unpredictable ride that was Trump’s public life, leaving people wondering what he’d target next.