New Balance faces backlash + boycotting following Trump support

By

Kate Dingwall

Published
Nov 10, 2016

New Balance is facing serious social media backlash after stating their support to President Elect Donald Trump. They are the first brand to publicly back the new president. This is the first time a sneaker brand has ever publicly endorsed a president.

New Balance told the Wall Street Journal that “Frankly, with President-Elect Trump, we feel things are going to move in the right direction". The quote was in reference to the company’s belief that President Obama did not pay enough attention to the manufacturing industry.

The internet has gone viral with the backlash. Twitter users have been posting videos and photos of users destroying their New Balance sneakers, from setting them ablaze to skewering them with swords to running them over with cars. New Balance is now trending on Twitter.

New Balance says all its products are entirely made in the U.S., and their factories have been featured in the brand’s ‘Made in America’ commercials. Their American-based manufacturing has remained a huge pride point for the brand whereas most of the industry produces its sports footwear in China and India. New Balance says it continually strives to make their products with 100% American parts and labour but that Obama's trade agreements have made this difficult.

New Balance has since clarified their statement, stating that they only support Trump´s trade stance.