Former President Donald Trump reached out to Anheuser-Busch, urging conservatives to reassess their stance on the company in light of the contentious Bud Light ad featuring a transgender influencer (inside.beer, 14.4.2023).
Trump emphasized that while the ad was a significant misstep, Anheuser-Busch shouldn't be dismissed as a "Woke" company but rather recognized as a quintessential American brand deserving of a second chance. He suggested redirecting attention towards companies he deemed as threats to America.
“The Bud Light ad was a mistake of epic proportions, and for that a very big price was paid, but Anheuser-Busch is not a Woke company,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Anheuser-Busch is a Great American Brand that perhaps deserves a Second Chance? What do you think? Perhaps, instead, we should be going after those companies that are looking to DESTROY AMERICA!”
This gesture coincides with an upcoming fundraiser for Trump, hosted by top Republican lobbyist Jeff Miller, who represents Anheuser-Busch. Tickets for the event, set at USD 10,000 each, are expected to draw a significant crowd of congressional members and Republican leaders, including Donald Trump Jr. Miller's firm had received USD 260,000 from Anheuser-Busch in 2023, with an increase in fees correlating with the fallout from the controversial ad.
Meanwhile, Bud Light continues to struggle with declining sales, down nearly 30% year-over-year. To regain consumer trust, the brand has launched a new advertising campaign, "Easy Night Out," featuring a whimsical narrative about friends encountering a "Bud Light Genie." Despite repeated calls for comment, neither Trump's team nor Anheuser-Busch responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
The support for a brewery group like Anheuser Busch is even more surprising when you know that Trump himself doesn't drink alcohol. The reasons lie in his family history. His brother Fred died in 1981 at age 42 allegedly as a result of his excessive alcohol consumption. "This is why I don't drink, ever," Trump explained once. "I just don't do it. Fred told me not to, and I saw what happened to him when he didn't follow his own advice."
In this regard, Trump is no different from his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, who has abstained from alcohol for most of his life. The causes also lie in the family of the current President of the USA. "There are enough alcoholics in my family," he said. His mother's side of the family suffered severe effects of alcohol, and Biden's son, Hunter Biden, has been candid about his addiction to drugs and alcohol.
