In recent weeks, sportswear brands Adidas, Asics, and Nike have come out against the policies of President Trump, condemning his controversial executive order on immigration. Under Armour didn't join in, which makes sense given that CEO Kevin Plank recently met with Trump to discuss jobs in America. Now, Plank's come out in support of Trump, calling him a "real asset" for U.S. companies.
In an interview on CNBC's Halftime Report, Plank discussed his meeting with the president, who he says is "highly passionate."
Plank reacted to Trump's election win in November by suggesting that "we all had the same reaction" and hoping that it would turn into a "unifying moment for America."
The always-outspoken Plank also compared himself to Under Armour signee Tom Brady, suggesting that people shouldn't bet against his brand like they did the Patriots quarterback in Super Bowl 51.
UPDATE 2/8: An Under Armour spokesperson has reached out to Sole Collector to clarify the brand's position on President Trump. Under Armour's statement is as follows:
"At Under Armour, our culture has always been about optimism, teamwork, and unity. We have engaged with both the prior and the current administrations in advocating on business issues that we believe are in the best interests of our consumers, teammates, and shareholders. Kevin Plank was recently invited at the request of the President of the United States to join the American Manufacturing Council as part of a distinguished group of business leaders. He joined CEOs from companies such as Dow Chemical, Dell, Ford, GE, and Tesla, among others to begin an important dialogue around creating jobs in America. We believe it is important for Under Armour to be a part of that discussion.
We have always been committed to developing innovative ways to support and invest in American jobs and manufacturing. For years, Under Armour has had a long-term strategy for domestic manufacturing and we recently launched our first women’s collection made in our hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. We are incredibly proud of this important first step in the evolution of creating more jobs at home.
We engage in policy, not politics. We believe in advocating for fair trade, an inclusive immigration policy that welcomes the best and the brightest and those seeking opportunity in the great tradition of our country, and tax reform that drives hiring to help create new jobs globally, across America and in Baltimore.
We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders ,and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences, and opinions. This is the core of our company. At Under Armour, our diversity is our strength, and we will continue to advocate for policies that protect our house, our business, our team, and our community."
