The billionaire co-founder of Home Depot Bernie Marcus has responded to threats of a boycott of the home improvement store in a Facebook post.
Marcus explained in the Facebook post that he has not been affiliated with Home Depot for nearly two decades and has used his money to support causes that benefit the public.
“Boom! Negative stories ... vicious threats, without cause, to boycott the company that has enabled my foundation to give billions to support autism, medical research, education, heart and neurological issues like stroke, and to help our veterans. The company that I retired from in 2002 and have not had a business relationship with in almost 20 years.”
He stressed that a boycott would hurt the hundreds of thousands it employs, all of which come from various political affiliations and backgrounds.
“A company that has employed more than a half-million people. The people who work there are affiliated with both political parties or no party at all. They are of all religions and all colors and backgrounds. Why would people want to hurt them?”
Marcus compared the responses he's received over his personal opinions and choices to something experienced in China, Argentina, and Russia.
“All because I give my voice and some of my money to our President. Am I in China? Argentina? Russia? That's what it feels like to me,” Marcus added, in the Facebook post. “It saddens me that our country has come to this, where I, as a private citizen, cannot express my feelings. It angers me and it saddens me, but it sure as hell is not going to stop me. If you thought it would, you've got the wrong guy.”
“In the next ten years, God willing, I will accomplish more to save this world than my critics will do even if they had forty lifetimes," he wrote on Facebook.
“I want to live to be 100 because I want to be in a position to give [my money] away to those things that I really believe in.”
For his 90th birthday this year, he brought in about $117 million in donations for philanthropic causes, according to AJC.
The newspaper estimates that on top of what Marcus has already donated, he could donate over $6 billion in his lifetime to various philanthropic causes.
President Donald Trump defended Marcus over Twitter.
“A truly great, patriotic & charitable man, Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot who, at the age of 90, is coming under attack by the Radical Left Democrats with one of their often-used weapons. They don’t want people to shop at those GREAT stores because he contributed to your favorite President, me!," Trump wrote on the social media site July 10.
These people are vicious and totally crazed but remember, there are far more great people (‘Deplorables’) in this country, than bad. Do to them what they do to you. Fight for Bernie Marcus and Home Depot!” Trump wrote.