Donald Trump has suggested boycotting Starbucks over the lack of festive cheer on this year’s red cups.
The White House hopeful told a capacity crowd in Springfield, Illinois, he was shocked at the minimalist design, which is without the snowflakes, winter scenes or Christmas ornaments for the first time in years.
So the Republican contender hinted to his supporters that they should avoid Starbucks cafes, even though the coffee giant has an outlet inside Trump Towers.
Trump also injected some Christmas spirit into the crowd, adding that we will ‘all be saying Merry Christmas again’, if he becomes president.
Trump told the pre-debate audience on Monday evening: ‘Did you read about Starbucks? No more Merry Christmas on Starbucks.
‘Maybe we should boycott Starbucks. I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Seriously, I don’t care.’
Some religious conservatives have expressed anger over the coffee company’s annual holiday-time cups – a minimalist all-red design with no images aside from the company’s green and white logo.
Previous years’ cups have featured snowflakes, winter scenes and sometimes Christmas ornaments.
But a small number of critics see the design choice as part of a larger movement away from exclusively Christian-themed holiday decorations. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump, who is working to win the support of evangelical and other conservative Christians in a crowded field, has often expressed frustrations over companies using the term ‘Happy Holidays’ in place of ‘Merry Christmas.’
He said on Monday that: ‘If I become president, we’re all going to be saying, ‘Merry Christmas” again. That I can tell you.’
He added that Starbucks operates a store in one of his buildings and that ‘that’s the end of that lease, but who cares?’
The rally comes on the eve of the next Republican presidential debate, which will be taking place Tuesday evening in Milwaukee.
