President-elect Donald Trump wants you to buy yourself some cozy winter gear from one of his donors.
Trump on Thursday tweeted out support for Linda Bean, the granddaughter of the founder of the iconic outdoor retail company L.L. Bean, after the Associated Press reported that she’d donated more to a political action committee that supported Trump than Federal Election Commission rules allow.
Bean reportedly donated $60,000 to Making America Great Again LLC, surpassing the group’s individual contribution limit of $5,000, according to the report. The FEC said the group, which is now looking into becoming a super PAC so that it can raise unlimited funds, could face punitive action or an audit if it doesn’t respond to inquiries about Bean’s donation.
The company has been facing backlash and reported boycotts due to Bean’s support of Trump. Shawn Gorman, L.L. Bean’s executive chairman, sought to distance the company from the President-elect on Sunday.
“We fully acknowledge and respect that some may disagree with the political views of a single member of our 10-person board of directors,” he wrote on the company’s Facebook page. “Like most large families, the more than 50 family member-owners of the business hold views and embrace causes across the political spectrum.”
“With this in mind, we are deeply troubled by the portrayal of L.L.Bean as a supporter of any political agenda,” he continued. “L.L.Bean does not endorse political candidates, take positions on political matters, or make political contributions. Simply put, we stay out of politics.”
But that didn’t stop Trump from sending the company some love:
Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean. @LBPerfectMaine
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2017
While the tweet encouraged people to buy L.L. Bean wares, Trump actually tagged Bean’s own company, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine, which is an “outdoor walk-up window at the L.L. Bean flagship store sells lobster rolls & chowder.”
Thanks. Now I won’t buy from this company.
Guess I’ll have to go back to Lands End for my shirts.
Ditto
Don’t see many deplorables sporting LL Bean shit.
God damn it. They make good stuff and stand behind it. Can I just not buy her stupid chowdah? Between New Balance and L.L. Bean I’m going to end up going around barefoot.