Under Armour CEO praises Trump, Twitter users vow to boycott

Amid growing consumer backlash against corporations that associate with Donald Trump, at least one business leader isn’t shy about his support of the president.

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank praised Trump’s agenda in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.

“To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country,” Plank told the financial news channel. “People can really grab that opportunity.”

Plank said he also admires the president’s willingness to take action without sweating the details.

“He wants to build things, he wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive,” Plank said in reference to Trump’s promise to spend big on infrastructure and build a border wall. “Im a big fan of people that operate in the world of publish and iterate versus think, think, think, think, think.”

The sportswear exec met with Trump in the White House last month along with other corporate bosses to discuss ways of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the country.

Under Armour makes around two thirds of its products in countries like China, Jordan, Vietnam and Indonesia, but Plank has said that he’d like to open more U.S. plants.

“Today, unfortunately, much of our manufacturing is done outside the U.S., Plank said at an event last June, according to the Baltimore Sun. We’d like to reinvent the process.”

Plank spent most of Tuesday’s interview talking about how the company intends to rebound from its current sales slump.

“You know, I think a lot of people bet against Tom Brady the other night, too.”

He compared that struggle to the New England Patriots’ surprise comeback in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“You know, I think a lot of people bet against Tom Brady the other night, too,” he said, drawing parallels with another noted Trump fan.

His comments Tuesday come a week after a massive customer boycott forced Uber chief Travis Kalanick to step down from a adviser post with the new administration .

New Balance, one of Under Armour’s rivals, faced a similar backlash last November when a company spokesperson praised Trump’s trade policy proposals. Social media users made a show of burning or trashing the brand’s sneakers in response.

Such fierce consumer reactions have likely pressured many Trump-supporting business leaders to keep their political allegiances to themselves.

But the administration’s billionaire-heavy cabinet and plans to dismantle financial regulations have already earned it a reputation with some as a friend to big business. Thus, Trump probably has plenty of quiet fans in corporate America’s C-suites.

Plank’s opinion is already causing some blowback on Twitter.

Under Armour didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Planks remarks.

Read more: http://mashable.com/2017/02/07/under-armour-ceo-praises-trump/