Last week, Costco nominated Gina Raimondo to its board of directors, a former Biden administration official who has expressed skepticism about President Donald Trump’s handling of tariffs.
The announcement of Raimondo, who led the Commerce Department and played a significant role in U.S. trade policy, came less than a week after Costco sued the Trump administration to ensure its eligibility for a full refund if the Supreme Court strikes down tariffs.
“Costco isn't even pretending anymore. They're openly stacking the board with Democratic operatives while waging legal war against the administration's economic agenda,” Lebanese Australian entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, an influential commentator on U.S. politics, said in a social media post on X that garnered more than 200,00 views. “Vote with your wallet accordingly.”
This was not the first time Costco took a position out of step with the administration. Despite mounting pressure from Trump and anti-DEI activists, earlier this year Costco doubled down on its diversity, equity and inclusion policies even as other corporations abandoned theirs.
Presidents wield considerable influence over the corporate world, but none more than Trump. His expansive use of executive power and iron grip on the GOP base has given him an unusual sway over how businesses operate. CEOs make pilgrimages to the Oval Office, bearing gifts and promises of donations to Trump projects.
