The mayor of Akron, Ohio publicly scorches Trump for his boycott against Goodyear tires
Desperately seeking any kind of distraction from his tanking poll numbers, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Republican Party’s refusal to pass any kind of relief for the 40 million or so Americans facing eviction on September 1st, President Trump has drummed up yet another imaginary culture war scandal to get his base all riled up over.
But it appears he may have shot himself in the foot on this one, hoisted by a petard of reckless impulsivity and his unrepentant refusal to consider the consequences of his actions. He certainly should have perhaps consulted his campaign staff before declaring a MAGA fatwa against the Goodyear tire company over company policies that banned overtly political clothing while at work.
Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES – They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020
The Goodyear tire company, based in the key swing state of Ohio, is an iconic symbol of America’s once-great manufacturing industry and a current employer of 3,000 American workers. Trump very narrowly carried the state of Ohio in the 2016 election, and it would behoove him to not anger the voters who rely on Goodyear for their livelihood over a laughably petty issue like being able to wear Trump’s China-made red hats on the job.
A major indication that Trump had made a crucial error was the critical response from the Mayor of Akron, Ohio, who tweeted that “Goodyear has believed in this community for generations, investing in the power, tenacity and honest people of the heartland, which is more than we can say for this president.”
First, you came to destroy American decency. Next, you came to destroy American institutions. Now you're coming to destroy the American economy and heartland jobs. Luckily you seem to fail at everything you do. pic.twitter.com/zzVJ9X0ap4
— City of Akron, Ohio (@AkronOhioMayor) August 19, 2020
Goodyear has believed in this community for generations, investing in the power, tenacity and honest people of the heartland, which is more than we can say for this president. #WeStandWithGoodyear pic.twitter.com/0bM8Xax018
— City of Akron, Ohio (@AkronOhioMayor) August 19, 2020
Mayor Daniel Horrigan was joined by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), who loudly condemned the president’s attack.
Trump promised to create manufacturing jobs. But he didn’t lift a finger when @GM left Lordstown. Now he’s attacking @Goodyear which employs over 3,000 Ohioans.
Ohio sees through these false promises. We can’t fire this President fast enough. https://t.co/oAwOQX1jfN
— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) August 19, 2020
It remains to be seen whether or not this will ultimately hurt the President’s chances at re-election, but it does lay bare the cynical selfishness and hypocrisy of Trump’s so-called “populism.” While he’s talks a big game about American workers and the need for companies to bring jobs back to our nation, he doesn’t lift a finger when his corporate buddies move their factories to Mexico — but turns on American companies the minute they make one move that offends him.
