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On August 13, 2024, Home Depot's CEO, Ted Decker, commented about the economy in a news release. He stated that the quarter high macro-economic uncertainty and higher interest rates "pressured consumer demand more broadly," which resulted in a "weaker spend across home improvement projects."
The company's comment on the economy led to consumers digging up their history wherein they came across Home Depot's co-founder Bernie Marcus endorsing Donald Trump.
In November 2023, Bernie admitted that he'd still have donated to Trump's 2024 campaign even if he ends up being convicted in one of his four criminal cases that were yet to come to trial at the time.
At the time, Trump was facing four criminal cases, including federal and state charges owing to his efforts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in 2020.
This comment, along with the company's statement on the economy, triggered regular customers and shoppers at Home Depot leading to #BoycottHomeDepot trending on X.
Additionally, shoppers of the company expressed their opinion toward the same on X and stated that they would be shifting to Lowe, replacing Home Depot for their shopping trips.
"I drive past Home Depot to get to Lowe's, on the other end of town" - Shopper tweets opinion amid people boycotting the company
In November 2023, Home Depot's co-founder Bernie Marcus gave a statement to Reuters stating that he would still support Donald Trump if he was convicted, saying "it's all trumped up".
Reacting to the same, one of the shoppers @samiamnurnot tweeted:
"Home Depot is close to my house. I drive past Home Depot to get to Lowe's, on the other end of town. #BoycottHomeDepot"
Additionally, most of the company's customers expressed their opinions with #BoycottHomeDepot wherein another one of the shoppers tweeted:
"Another reason to shop at Lowes instead of MAGA supporting"
Apart from Bernie, the company's other founder Ken Langone commented on endorsing Trump at "Your World with Neil Cavuto" in July 2024. While Ken supported Nikki Haley earlier, he changed his stance after the alleged assassination attempt on Trump.
Talking about the same, Ken Lagone mentioned:
"Me, if I was virtually damn near dead, that close, I would have been pleading: get me out of here, get me out of here, get me out of here! This was exactly the opposite. He wanted to go back to the podium."
Additionally, in his statement, Ken talked about how he witnessed bravery being born "from rank stupidity" during the alleged assassination attempt on Donald Trump. He mentioned that twenty-six minutes before a shot was fired on the former president, rally attendees were pointing up trying to tell the police about the shooter.
Talking about the unity of people in that moment, Ken Langone stated:
"When America pulls together, no matter what, [despite] our political differences or spiritual differences, whatever they are, and we get together, there's no stopping us. Nothing will stop us."
In other news, the company made its largest acquisition in 2024, according to CNN, wherein the company spent $18.3 billion to buy SRS Distribution. SRS distribution is a building-projects supplier with pool contractors, professional roofers, and landscapers as foremost customers.
Neither of the company's founders has commented or responded to the backlash they have been receiving recently.
