Trump Threatens Suit Over 'Dump Trump' Campaign
Donald Trump has threatened the creator of the "Dump Trump" campaign with a $5 million lawsuit if he does not stop the petition calling for him to be fired from Macy's. Angelo Carusone, the organizer of the petition, has said he has no plans to stop his campaign.
"Donald Trump's attempt to silence me will not work," Carusone said in a statement. "I've dealt with enough bullies and know better than to succumb to intimidation. By threatening me, Trump is only reinforcing the point that we've been trying to get Macy's to recognize: that Trump's brand is consequence-free bullying and chicanery; it shouldn't be rewarded."
The "Dump Trump" petition came about when Carusone had had enough of the mogul's calls for President Obama's birth certificate and questioning of whether he was truly an American citizen. Trump is a well-known "birther" who has questioned Obama's origins since he first ran for President in 2008.
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He most recently made an offer of $5 million to the charity of Obama's choosing if he would release his college transcripts and passport. Trump released a highly anticipated video during the 2012 campaign calling for the records to be released to prove once and for all that Obama was born in the United States.
Macy's has responded to the "Dump Trump" by saying they will not fire him because of his personal and political views.
"Macy's marketing and merchandise offerings are not representative of any political position. Many of the individuals associated with products sold at Macy's – or at any retailer for that matter – express personal opinions that are not related to the merchandise we sell or to the philosophies of our company," they said in a statement published by Us Weekly.
"Do not test Mr. Trump's resolve in protecting his professional name, reputation and business affairs," a letter from Trump's attorney read.
"There is a well-established First Amendment right to advocate a boycott over policy-related objections," attorney Paul Levy wrote in a letter back to Trump. "Most candidates for public office [including Trump] would be liable at one point or another," he noted, if suits were continually filed over disagreeing political positions.
