Shopify terminates stores connected to Trump
TORONTO
Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s stores were taken off-line by Shopify Inc. on Thursday, as the country grappled with the role he played in inciting violence that erupted at the Capitol building the day before.
The Ottawa-based e-commerce company said that it terminated stores affiliated with Trump because his actions contravened Shopify’s policies.
“Shopify does not tolerate actions that incite violence,” the company said in a statement.
“Based on recent events, we have determined that the actions by President Donald J. Trump violate our acceptable use policy, which prohibits promotion or support of organizations, platforms or people that threaten or condone violence to further a cause.”
Trump’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
When visited on Thursday, both his hotel and branded goods business site trumpstore.com and campaign store shop.donaldjtrump.com generated messages saying “oops something went wrong” and “this store is unavailable.”
Trump’s social media channels showed the stores sold items like “Make America Great Again” apparel, Christmas ornaments depicting his hotels, flip flops and T-shirts emblazoned with his logo and the American flag, scented candles, teddy bears, bath and beauty products, model airplanes and footballs.
Shopify’s move comes a day after Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol and entered key spaces and offices held by officials who were largely evacuated or ordered to shelter-in-place.
They were emboldened to attack the Capitol as Congress was in the midst of debating objections to Joe Biden’s certification as the next president.
It also followed Democrats winning two Senate races in Georgia handing it full control of government when Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were declared the winners, handing control of the Senate to the Democrats.
Trump released a minute-long video Wednesday on social media, where he told those involved in the Capitol attack that he “loved” them, but they “have to go home now.”