If you are a subscriber of the Sunday New York Times, then you might’ve seen a full-page ad in the July 17th edition of the newspaper. Subscribers found a full-page advertisement denouncing Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. If you are wondering who was the mastermind behind the letter – and who has enough disposable income to secure a full page ad – then you may be surprised to find that it came from a CEO of a vegan condiment.
Who Is Josh Tetrick?
Josh Tetrick is the CEO of Hampton Creek, the person behind the ad. Hampton Creek is a company that specializes in vegan mayonnaise and other vegan food products. However, you wouldn’t know this by reading his ad, since he only included his name and contact information. The ad was released just 24 hours before the commencement of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
What Did The Ad Say?
In the ad, Tetrick points at Trump’s demagoguery, calling out his ability to exploit the belligerent and scared for the benefit of his own campaign. He calls Trump’s campaign as “un-American,” with it destined to fail.
Tetrick felt like it was his personal responsibility to speak up against Trump and his rhetoric. He mentions that he hopes that his actions inspire others. This full-page ad cost Tetrick almost $200,000. He hopes that his dedication encourages dialogue with colleagues and friends, and for other industry leaders to make a stand against Trump and his ilk.
Tetrick also mentioned an aspect of capitalism that is sometimes overlooked. Profits sometimes take precedent to opinions, with money easily enabling, and disabling people’s will to be outspoken. He called for other leaders to stand up by their principles and not only focus on the lure of profits. He also underlined the fact that he’s not aligning himself or encouraging others to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton. It was more about refusing to support a campaign that opposes American values. This is why Tetrick decided to say something.
