Donald Trump Jr. has broken ranks with conservative activists calling for a boycott of Bud Light, owned by Anheuser-Busch, over its association with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
During his podcast “Triggered,” Trump Jr. described the situation as a cultural front in the political right’s vocal criticism of transgender issues and gender-affirming care. Trump Jr. argued that while he frequently opposes “woke” influences, he won’t support the destruction of an American company for the current issue.
He also noted that Anheuser-Busch has a conservative leaning in its political donations. The boycott began after Bud Light partnered with Mulvaney during this year’s NCAA basketball tournament, leading to criticism from conservatives. Trump Jr.’s remarks differed from those of Kid Rock, who posted an Instagram video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light, and country singer Travis Tritt, who announced he would ban Anheuser-Busch beverages from his tour.
Mulvaney, who has over 10 million followers on TikTok, was dubbed an “easy target” by critics. However, in a recent episode of “Onward with Rosie O’Donnell,” Mulvaney said she tries to put out only positive content to connect with others who may not understand her.
Anheuser-Busch has suffered a financial hit due to calls for a boycott of its brands, with one Missouri bar owner telling Fox Business that bottled Bud Light sales dropped 30%, while draft sales dropped 50%. Meanwhile, Budweiser has released a new patriotic advertisement featuring one of its famous Clydesdale horses, which has been a staple of the company’s advertisements for decades, traversing the country and passing by scenes in the American heartland.
The advertisement was released on social media on Friday as Anheuser-Busch deals with the backlash from the Bud Light partnership.
Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth has issued a statement saying the company never intended to divide people, adding that they are in the business of bringing people together over a beer. Cowboy State Daily surveyed small-town bars across Wyoming to see if any were experiencing boycotts of Bud Light after the company’s marketing campaign with Mulvaney.
According to the outlet, seven of the 12 bars that commented said they’d seen no noticeable change in Bud Light sales since the controversy began, while the remaining five reported changes from barely discernible to very severe. For example, K Bar Saloon in Powell, Wyoming, said Bud Light sales had decreased, with customers switching to Coors Light. In contrast, Lucky 5 Lounge in Shoshoni said Bud Light was still selling, with some customers moving to other brands.
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