'Boycott Home Depot' calls surface online after co-founder Bernie Marcus pledges to support Trump even if former POTUS is convicted
MIAMI, FLORIDA: In a recent interview on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, Republican mega-donor Bernie Marcus declared that he would likely continue to contribute to Donald Trump's potential 2024 presidential campaign even if the former president faced criminal conviction.
Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot and a prominent figure in GOP fundraising, insisted that while he would still support Trump, he does not intend to be one of the primary financial backers.
Trump, currently the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, is grappling with legal challenges, including state and federal charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Denying any wrongdoing, the 77-year-old ex-president has pleaded not guilty to all four cases, raising speculation about the impact of potential convictions on his political future.
Bernie Marcus's affirmation of support
When asked by Reuters about his continued support in the event of a conviction, the 94-year-old Marcus replied, "I think so. Because I think it's all trumped up."
Notably, Marcus had recently announced his support for Trump, who remains popular among Republican voters as the nomination contest looms.
Having supported Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 White House bids, Marcus revealed that he had spoken with the former president recently. "I never discussed his legal fees or his legal problems," Marcus said, noting that Trump was "very happy" about his endorsement.
In the 2020 election cycle, Marcus and his wife Billi Wilma Marcus ranked as the seventh-largest individual Republican donors, contributing nearly $25 million to Republican campaigns, according to OpenSecrets.
Forbes estimates Marcus's net worth at around $8.8 billion.
While Marcus did not divulge specifics about his financial contributions this time, he affirmed his intention to support Trump in the primary and the general election if Trump secures the nomination.
However, Marcus clarified that he would not be a major financial supporter, stating, "Of course, I'm going to support him to some extent, but I'm not one of his big givers, that's for sure."
Expressing his admiration for other Republican candidates, Marcus mentioned former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Despite his favorable view of these candidates, Marcus opined that they might face challenges beating Trump in the nominating contest. He highlighted Trump's perceived strengths as a "fixer" beneficial to the US economy and robust in Middle East foreign policy.
Social media reacts to Bernie Marcus' statement
Marcus' endorsement of Trump faced backlash on social media, with many liberals vowing to boycott Home Depot over Marcus's support for the former president.
"I'm never shopping Home Depot again. Who is with me?" one posted on X (formerly Twitter).
"@HomeDepot can say goodbye to my business account," another wrote.
"Bye Home Depot. I will never step in [sic] any of your stores anymore," someone else added.
"Hello, Lowe’s! Glad to give you my business," a comment read.
"We know when billionaires are protecting their money versus genuine care for the American people," another offered.
I'm never shopping Home Depot again. Who is with me?
— Anam Saeed (@a_saeed58) November 29, 2023
Home Depot billionaire says he'll continue funding Trump campaign — even if he's convicted
Bye Home Depot. I will never step in any of your stores anymore.
— PinoyChemist 🇵🇭 (@mojicachempace) November 30, 2023
We know when billionaires are protecting their money versus genuine care for the American people.
— Dben Andromeda (@Derrick55096) November 29, 2023
Bernie Marcus' past support of Donald Trump
Marcus previously wrote an op-ed in RealClearPolitics, where he praised Trump and predicted his victory in the 2024 Republican nomination.
In the op-ed, Marcus urged supporters not to let Trump's "brash style be the reason we walk away from his otherwise excellent stewardship of the United States during his first term in office.”
This is not the first time Marcus has faced criticism for supporting Trump. In 2019, his endorsement led to calls for a boycott of Home Depot.
Despite acknowledging disagreements with some of Trump's actions, Marcus emphasized the positive impact he believed Trump had on the country.
“Now, do I agree with every move that he makes? No, I don’t,” Marcus told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time.
“But the truth is he has produced more than anybody else. He has. If we look at this country, I would say that we are better off today than we were eight years ago or six years ago,” he added.