Boycotts of Uber and Starbucks Sparked by Trump’s Order

Tensions are still rising on social media given President Trump’s recent executive order restricting travelers and citizens from seven countries in the Middle East.

While protests go on in airports around the country, hashtags are also spreading on Twitter and Facebook, in the form of #DeleteUber, and #BoycottStarbucks. The two companies both made statements regarding the issue, and both received some negative feedback.

In the case of Uber, those who oppose the ban are deleting the app. The company’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, has a working relationship with the Trump administration, as part of the business advisory board. In addition to these ties, drivers were continuing to pick up customers at JFK airport while the New York taxi service stopped service in solidarity with refugees.

Kalanick, after widespread disapproval of drivers servicing JFK, made a statement regarding his views on the ban, saying “…when we close the door to immigrants from certain countries, not to mention to refugees, we are telling all immigrants that they are not welcome here.” Even with this statement, much of the damage had already been done. Lyft now has more downloads a day than Uber.

Starbucks, in response to the ban on refugees, made a statement that they will be working to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. CEO Howard Schulz stated that the company will “start this effort here in the U.S. by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support.”

This drew backlash from those who favor the order, as they suggest Starbucks hire citizens first and not newcomers to the country. Starbucks has said, however, that the 10,000 new hires will be hired at Starbucks locations all around the world, in 75 different countries, so not all will be hired in the U.S.