CNN
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Donald Trump has made governments with diversity, equity and inclusion programs the number one priority in his new administration, calling them “illegal” and “immoral.” However, throughout his career, Trump has supported the opposite views and has often emphasized the importance of such initiatives in business.
Last year, the corporate governance document for his media company, which owns a true social platform, pledged to promote a “culture of diversity and inclusion” amid a handful of guidelines adopted before the company was published.
Trump’s Business Book defends employment diversity, including his 2000 book, The America We Frasever, and writes that one of the president’s most important jobs is to “induce great tolerance for diversity.”
Trump, who was considering the president’s run at the time, argued in his book that through friendships with black celebrities such as rapper Sean “Diddy” Comb and baseball player Sammy Sosa, “I had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the diversity of American culture, and that was pretty much the case for those who dislike me and those who dislike the intolerance of sermons.”
“Anyone who really knows me knows I hate intolerance and prejudice,” Trump added.
As a presidential candidate in 2024, Trump frequently opposed the DEI initiatives, and his campaign promised to close them soon if he was elected.
“We do not tolerate so-called stock policies that punish Americans based on race or gender,” Trump said at a campaign stop in September 2024.
One of Trump’s first inaugurations was to sign an executive order that eliminates the federal government-wide DEI initiative. This week, a federal judge temporarily blocked some of these directives.
Still, Trump’s anti-DEI push reflects a broader pullback on some of these initiatives, with critics claiming that it promotes preferential treatment based on race and gender. Many well-known companies have also retreated from their own DEI commitments, including Amazon, McDonalds and Walmart.
Dei’s supporters argue that dismantling these initiatives undermines efforts to promote equal opportunities in the workplace and organization, particularly for underrepresented groups. And supporters have organized boycotts against several companies that have rewind their diversity efforts since Trump took office.
In response to CNN’s report, a spokesman for Trump Media and Technology Group has dismissed the importance of diversity and inclusion statements in the company’s corporate governance, meaning that compliance with anti-discrimination laws is merely a legal language.
“Focusing on legal languages that clearly ban discrimination and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, CNN is an example of CNN’s textbook that prefers frivolous and partisan “gotcha” stories to meaningful news that affect people’s lives,” the spokesman said.
The White House also became heavier, and it attacked Dei’s policies more widely.
“The divisive focus on left-wing DEI policy undermines decades of progress towards true equality. The Trump administration will pursue an agenda that will reject this backward thinking and lift everyone who has the opportunity to achieve America’s dream,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields.
However, legal expert CNN said Trump media’s claim that diversity statements are more than just a standard language.
CNN legal analyst Ellie Honig said businesses must comply with anti-discrimination laws, but do not need to issue official statements in support of their commitment to diversity.
“There is no law that requires a positive official statement,” Honig said.
Professor Yoshino, a professor of constitutional law at New York University, said the statement explicitly describes diversity as a factor in employment and board nominations.
“The defense is that this statement is about discrimination and prohibiting compliance with the credibility of the law,” Yoshino said. “The “Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion” section states that this commitment is a factor in identifying and nominating director candidates at both the nomination and Corporate Governance Committee and the board level. “This sounds like traditional positive behavior, not without discrimination. ”
Trump media included commitments to diversity and inclusion as part of the corporate governance guidelines adopted by the board prior to its release in March 2024. The five-page document contains many bullet points including stock ownership and board director ethics and standards guidelines.
“The Board is committed to creating and maintaining a culture of diversity and inclusion.” “The company is able to grow and improve with its diverse board, management and employee teams. Such commitments are factors that identify and nominate director candidates, both at the nomination and corporate governance committee and the board level.”
Additionally, the Board believes and supports equal employment opportunities for all, and strongly encourages management to make unique contributions that employees or candidates make to the company in terms of education, opinions, culture, race, gender, gender and expression, sexual orientation, national character, religion, religion, disability, disability, disability, disability, and its culture.
Trump’s business writings also highlight the importance of diversity.
In his 2006 book, Trump 101: The Way to Success, he writes that businesses like the Trump organization benefit from a combination of personality and background.
“This kind of diversity can bring new, exciting and creative ideas to your business. In New York City, there is no choice. Diversity comes with terrain. You may end up working with people who are completely different from you or people you don’t understand. They may have different values, characteristics, and goals, but you have to get along,” he wrote.
“The best part is that if you can just give them a chance and the difference can enrich your life, then you can usually learn from these people,” he added. “When working with others, look beyond the obvious and how they present themselves. People are not one dimension. Every individual has a unique talent that may be in their job description, or may be on their resumes.”
Trump later wrote that he appreciated his exposure to various backgrounds and beliefs.
“Whether you’re talking about work, ethics, politics or not, I never assume that your way is the only way. Be open to diverse opinions, practices, and opinions. Be grateful for the diversity of our lives and the benefits of being exposed to so many different backgrounds and beliefs. Take the time to try to understand other perspectives, how and why those people behave like them. Gather information, get the entire story, and don’t jump or judge the conclusion.”
And while real-life competition hosts show “apprenticeships,” Trump frequently praised the diverse groups of competitors.
At the premiere of season 6, Trump said: They are the best and brightest. Lawyer, business owner, internet executive, and even Olympic athlete. The candidates are diverse and talented groups, but they all have the same goal of a year of apprenticeships in the Trump organization. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime dream job. ”
