Starbucks Fans Urge Company to Cut Ties With Donald Trump

The Republican National Convention kicks off today in Cleveland, meaning the walking, talking bottle of self-tanner known as Donald Trump is going to be awfully busy grandstanding about how to "make America [insert adjective here] again." In the meantime, Trump opponents are urging Starbucks to cut business ties with the presumptive presidential nominee.

As Buzzfeed News reports, this latest effort goes beyond a mere petition: More than a thousand people have pledged to purchase nearly $70,000 in Starbucks gift cards if the coffee giant will terminate its lease at Trump Tower in Manhattan.

This so-called "reverse Kickstarter" is the first campaign from a new site called Payola, whose simply stated mission is "pledge money, change companies."

"The money Starbucks gives Trump every month is used to fund the bigotry and racism that he broadcasts across the country," the campaign site reads. "Macy's, NBC-Universal, ESPN, Apple, and NASCAR have all cut ties with Trump, but Starbucks continues to hold out, forcing us to unwillingly fund Donald Trump's hate with every latte bought."

According to Buzzfeed, the campaign's creator says its ultimate goal is $1.5 million, though "No money will be transacted until Starbucks actually leaves Trump Tower." For the sake of comparison, Starbucks reported $19 billion in sales last year.

In spite of the Frappuccinos being slung in at least two Trump properties — a Starbucks is also located inside the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey — there's seemingly no love lost between the loud-mouthed politician and Starbucks' CEO Howard Schultz: Trump previously threatened a Starbucks boycott in the midst of last year's ridiculous holiday cup controversy, while the coffee chain ran a full-page ad in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal back in March that seemed more or less a direct shot at Trump.

Eater has reached out to Starbucks for comment.

• People Are Pledging To Buy Gift Cards If Starbucks Dumps Trump Tower [Buzzfeed]

• Tell Starbucks: Dump Donald Trump [Payola]

• All Donald Trump Coverage [E]