Vivek Ramaswamy ignites Target CEO’s comments on woke capitalism: ‘Put a target on his back’

FIRST ON FOX: GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy torched the CEO of Target for his praise of woke capitalism, joking that it “put a target” on the retailer’s back.

Ramaswamy, one of several Republicans seeking the party’s nomination for the White House in 2024, Fox News Digital told Wednesday that the consumer response to Target’s alienation of much of its customer base is “totally fair game.”

“If a company makes a conscious business decision to alienate a significant portion of its customer base, then it’s only fair that its customers respond accordingly,” Ramaswamy said.

TARGET CEO SAYS AWAKE CAPITALISM IS “GREAT” FOR THEIR BRAND, “THE RIGHT THING FOR SOCIETY”

“It’s not a boycott, it’s just a response to a company choosing to spit in their face,” he continued. “I have no doubt that many companies find awakening a good short-term trick.”

Ramaswamy, who wrote the book “Woke, Inc.”, warned that the awakening is “bad for business and society as a whole in the long run.”

“Target just put a target on its back from its consumer base,” Ramaswamy said. “Just ask Budweiser how it worked for them.”

Target did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The Republican presidential candidate’s comments came after Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a recent interview that “woke” capitalism is “great” for their brand and “the right thing for society.”

The Republican presidential candidate’s comments came after Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a recent interview that “woke” capitalism is “great” for their brand and “the right thing for society.” (Sarah Blesener/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Cornell made the comment during an interview on Fortune’s “Leadership Next” podcast on May 17, days before the retail chain became the target of customer outrage and online backlash on its June Pride Month collection this year, which includes “tuck friendly” women’s swimwear. costumes for transgender people, “Gender Fluid” mugs and LGBTQ rainbow clothing for children.

Cornell was asked to respond to the backlash of “woke” corporate campaigns, which have caused an uproar among conservative consumers and recently mingled brands like Bud Light, Nike and Disney.

“I think these are just good business decisions, and it’s the right thing for the company, and it’s the right thing for our brand,” Cornell said.

Less than a week after the podcast was released, Target women’s style swimwear that advertises a “user-friendly construction” to hide male genitalia has gone viral, angering some customers and sparking outrage online. (Brian Flood/Fox News)

“Things we made from an IED [diversity, equity and inclusion] point of view, it adds value,” he continued. “It helps us drive sales, it creates greater engagement with our teams and guests, and it’s exactly the right things for our business today.

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Less than a week after the podcast was released, Target women’s style swimwear that advertises a “user-friendly construction” to hide male genitalia has gone viral, angering some customers and sparking outrage online. In the days that followed, customers turned to the brand for its Pride displays in stores across the country; the display of Pride-themed children’s items and baby onesies in particular has angered many customers.

The backlash apparently worried management at Target, which took “emergency” action on Friday by ordering some managers and senior district managers to tamp down Pride sections in their stores over fears of recreating a “Bud Light situation.” Fox News Digital first reported on Tuesday, citing a target insider.

Fox News Digital’s Yael Halon contributed reporting.