Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is considering boycotting Starbucks after the company announced plans to phase out its Christmas themed coffee cups. Trump is the latest person to complain about the removal of the cups, as the internet has been abuzz with upset coffee drinkers who say that the cups are essential to a Merry Christmas.
Trump said, “I have one of the most successful Starbucks, in Trump Tower. Maybe we should boycott Starbucks? I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t care. That’s the end of that lease, but who cares? If I become president, we’re all going to be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again, that I can tell you. That I can tell you.”
The comments from Trump are clearly part of an effort to win the vote of Evangelical Christians, who are critical to winning the key states of Iowa and South Carolina. Currently, most Evangelical Christian Republicans prefer Ben Carson. Although Trump is currently leading all Republicans, he has faced stiff competition from Carson, the former neurosurgeon turned politician. Both Iowa and South Carolina will vote early in the Republican primaries.
According to Starbucks, the company has removed its “symbols of the season” decorative coffee cups. The cups featured reindeer and Christmas ornaments, and they have been used by the company in past holiday seasons. This year, Starbucks will simply feature a two-toned red coffee cup in recognition of the holidays.
Some Christian leaders have attacked the move by Starbucks, saying that it is destroying the message of Christmas. Other companies have been similarly attacked for allegedly waging a “war against Christmas”, as they have instructed employees not to say “Merry Christmas” and instead use the more generic well-wishing of “Happy Holidays” in order to cater to a more diverse group.
Of course, other people are accepting of the move, saying that not everyone in the United States is a Christian. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, and therefore the “Merry Christmas” greeting and Christmas-themed cups are inappropriate.
However, Trump generally doesn’t care what other people think, and he wants everyone to start saying “Merry Christmas”. Forget the fact that he can’t legally endorse such a move. The presidential candidate previously pledged his allegiance to Christmas during a campaign rally that took place last month.
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