A man prepares to burn his New Balance sneakers (@MMArtinitus/Twitter)
Twitter users are getting rid of their New Balance shoes thanks to the company’s support of President-elect Donald Trump. But the company said they only back his trade policy.
On Nov. 9, a Wall Street Journal reporter tweeted a quote from the New Balance vice president of public affairs. The statement backed Trump’s stance on trade.
“The Obama administration turned a deaf ear to us and frankly with President-elect Trump, we feel things are going to move in the right direction,” it read.
New Balance: “The Obama admin turned a deaf ear to us & frankly w/ Pres-Elect Trump we feel things are going to move in the right direction”
— Sara Germano (@germanotes) November 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/germanotes/status/796479667523977216
The sneaker company is referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership – established under the Barack Obama administration. According to the TPP website, it created global trade rules grow the American economy and increase American-made exports. Countries in the continents of Asia and North America were involved as well as South American countries like Chile and Peru.
However, Gary Hufbauer told Politico TPP will cease to exist under the Trump administration.
“TPP is now in the history dustbin for sure,” Hufbauer, the senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics said.
Still, Twitter users sore from the result of the election Tuesday became furious over New Balance’s support for Trump.
Jon Targaryen threw his sneakers in the trash.
@SoleCollector @newbalance pic.twitter.com/r3j6sXsdAP
— Jon Targaryen (@tbrooks__) November 10, 2016
And @artsy_indy attempted to flush her shoes down the toilet.
@SoleCollector @newbalance let’s just pretend like they flushed ??? pic.twitter.com/DWjkPLTw2l
— ?✨ (@artsy_indy) November 10, 2016
Jinx announced his cease of support for New Balance.
It's curtains for @newbalance.
— brandon / jinx / big jinx (@brandonjinx) November 10, 2016
@MelioraMed admitted how comfortable her pair of New Balance is but said the shoes had to go.
@SoleCollector @newbalance these sum bitches are so comfortable but have got to go.
— LikeThisDove (@MelioraMed) November 10, 2016
Meanwhile, Ta’Quan shared pictures of himself removing the shoes from his feet and dropping them in the garbage can.
@SoleCollector @newbalance pic.twitter.com/8iYJr7IEEB
— Ta’Quan (@SenseiQuan) November 10, 2016
Some even burned their shoes like Jean Ralphio
@SoleCollector @newbalance pic.twitter.com/6dROPnmYdm
— Jean Ralphio (@MMArtinitus) November 10, 2016
Yet Akewi simply had this to say.
https://twitter.com/OxtailGravy/status/796522818183766016
But Madison Flowers said donating the sneakers would provide a better solution.
https://twitter.com/PetalMePerfect/status/796830081251442688
However, the company’s vice president of public affairs clarified its remarks to BuzzFeed Wednesday.
“The statement is correct in the context of trade,” Matt LeBretton said. “Not talking about large geo-political anything, but in the context of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. It’s inaccurate. Everything I’ve said is in the context of trade.”
Additionally, the company emphasized its stance on Twitter Nov. 10, stating its employees “constantly strive to better” society.
— New Balance (@newbalance) November 10, 2016
