The CEO of Goya Foods stood by his decision to compliment President Trump during a White House event despite backlash, including a call from prominent Democrats to boycott his products.
Robert Unanue appeared on Fox & Friends Friday morning and refused to back down, calling the boycott “suppression of speech,” and pointed out that he answered President Obama’s call to attend the White House as well.
“So, you’re allowed to talk good or to praise one president, but you’re not allowed … to aid in economic and educational prosperity? And you make a positive comment, all of a sudden, it is not acceptable,” Unanue said.
“We’re all truly blessed … to have a leader, like President Trump, who is a builder,” Unanue said Thrusday during his Rose Garden speech aimed at addressing Trump’s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative. “We have an incredible builder, and we pray. We pray for our leadership, our president.”
The comments sparked a boycott against Goya products pushed by Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Julian Castro, and others. The hastag #goyaway began trending on twitter Friday.
“Oh look, it’s the sound of me Googling ‘how to make your own Adobo,’” Ocasio-Cortez commented along with a retweet of a call to boycott Goya products.
Get yourself friends like these: this tweet wasn’t up for TWO MINUTES when my friend hit me up with the recipe. (Their note: “the ginger is controversial, but worth it”)
(For accessibility:
4 Salt, 1 paprika, 1 cumin, 1 celery powder, 2 garlic powder, .5 ginger , 1 chili powder) pic.twitter.com/5WFe9sL5jE— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 10, 2020
Goya is the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.
