You've probably seen the hashtags. Every few years, like clockwork, "Boycott Home Depot" starts trending on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook. Usually, it’s a blurry screenshot of a donation record or a quote from a billionaire that sets people off. If you’re standing in the lumber aisle wondering if your plywood purchase is basically a campaign contribution, you aren't alone. It's a question that gets asked a lot: does home depot support trump?
The short answer is: it’s complicated, mostly because people confuse the company with the guys who started it.
Honestly, the retail giant is in a weird spot. It’s one of the most successful businesses in American history, but it’s also a lightning rod for political frustration. To understand what's actually happening with your money, you have to look at the three-headed monster of corporate PACs, retired founders, and the current board of directors.
The Founder Factor: Bernie Marcus and Ken Langone
When people talk about Home Depot being "pro-Trump," they are almost always talking about Bernie Marcus. Marcus co-founded the company back in 1978. He’s the guy who helped build the orange empire from the ground up.
He also died in late 2024 at the age of 95.
Before his passing, Marcus was a massive, unapologetic supporter of Donald Trump. We aren't talking about a small check, either. In 2016, he poured roughly $7 million into committees supporting Trump. In 2020, that number went up, with Marcus and his wife Billi contributing over $10 million to various PACs and the campaign directly. He even went on the record in 2023 saying he’d back Trump’s third run regardless of legal drama.
👉 See also: Illinois State Safety Lane Diesel Emissions Testing: What Most Truck Owners Get Wrong
Then there is Ken Langone. He’s another co-founder who has been extremely vocal. Langone has had a bit of a roller-coaster relationship with the former president—he once said he felt "betrayed" after the events of January 6th—but by mid-2025, he was back in the "sold on Trump" camp, calling him one of the best presidents ever in various interviews.
Why this matters (and why it doesn't)
- Retired Status: Bernie Marcus retired as chairman in 2002. That’s over two decades ago.
- Personal Wealth: The millions Marcus donated came from his own pocket, not the cash register at your local store.
- Current Leadership: The current CEO, Ted Decker, is a very different vibe from the founders.
The Corporate Stance: What the Company Actually Says
If you ask the corporate office in Atlanta, they’ll give you a very polished, very neutral answer. Their official policy is pretty clear: The Home Depot does not endorse presidential candidates.
They actually go out of their way to say that the Home Depot PAC (Political Action Committee) doesn't give money to presidential campaigns. Instead, they focus on "down-ballot" races—people running for Congress or state legislatures.
Why? Because those are the people who pass laws about retail theft, taxes, and trade. For a massive company, having "a seat at the table" is more important than picking a side in the culture wars. If you look at their data from the 2020 and 2024 cycles, their corporate-related giving was surprisingly balanced, often splitting almost exactly 50/50 between Democrats and Republicans.
📖 Related: The Stop & Shop Logo: Why That Weird Purple Fruit Actually Matters
How the PAC works
- Voluntary: The money doesn't come from profits. It comes from "salaried associates" (managers and execs) who choose to chip in.
- Small Dollars: The average contribution is often just a few bucks per paycheck.
- Bipartisan: They give to whoever is on the committees that affect their business.
The "Boycott" Cycle: Why It Keeps Coming Back
Social media thrives on outrage. Because Bernie Marcus was such a loud supporter of conservative causes—railing against "woke" culture and socialism—his name became synonymous with the orange logo.
Every time Marcus made a headline, people would post: "Stop shopping at Home Depot! They're funding Trump!" This puts the company in a defensive crouch. They spend a lot of time explaining that Marcus hasn't worked there in 20 years. It’s sorta like being mad at a local pizza shop because the guy who started it in the 70s has some wild opinions on Facebook today.
But for many consumers, the brand is the man. They can't separate the two. This has led to a bizarre situation where Home Depot is seen as the "Republican" hardware store while Lowe's is sometimes viewed as the more "neutral" or "liberal" alternative, even though Lowe's has its own PAC that gives plenty of money to Republicans too.
Comparing Home Depot and Lowe’s
People often jump ship to Lowe’s thinking they’re making a political statement. Let’s look at the reality of how these two giants play the game.
| Feature | Home Depot | Lowe's |
|---|---|---|
| Founder Politics | Extremely vocal, pro-Trump (Marcus/Langone) | Generally less public/vocal |
| Presidential Endorsements | Officially None | Officially None |
| PAC Giving | Bipartisan, leans slightly GOP | Bipartisan, leans slightly GOP |
| Key Issues | Trade, retail theft, taxes | Supply chain, labor, taxes |
Basically, both companies want the same thing: a business-friendly environment. They aren't trying to change the world; they're trying to sell power drills and mulch.
Does Your Money Actually Reach the Campaign?
When you buy a $500 grill, that money goes toward:
- Paying the hourly workers in the store.
- Buying the grill from the manufacturer.
- Paying for the lights and the building.
- Dividends for shareholders (which might include your own 401k).
None of that $500 is directly handed over to a political campaign. However, the profits do go to the founders and executives in the form of stock value and dividends. So, in a very indirect way, if Bernie Marcus owned millions of shares (which he did), the company's success increased his personal wealth, which he then used to fund Trump.
That’s the "nuance" that gets lost in a 280-character post.
The 2024-2026 Shift
As we’ve moved through the 2024 election and into 2026, the landscape has changed. With Bernie Marcus gone, the direct link between the "Home Depot name" and high-level Trump fundraising has weakened significantly. The company is leaning harder into its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals to appeal to younger shoppers who care about sustainability.
They’ve also doubled down on "https://www.google.com/search?q=HomeDepotVotes.com," a non-partisan site they created to help employees register to vote. It’s an attempt to look like the "good guy" without taking a side.
Actionable Insights for the Conscious Shopper
If you’re trying to decide where to spend your money, here’s how to look at it without the social media noise:
- Check the PACs: If you really care about where corporate money goes, use a site like OpenSecrets.org. Search for "Home Depot" and see which individual candidates they are supporting this year. You might be surprised to see plenty of Democrats on that list.
- Distinguish Founders from Firms: Recognize that a company is a legal entity with thousands of employees of all political stripes. A founder’s personal donation is not a corporate policy.
- Look at Local Impact: Home Depot is actually one of the biggest employers of veterans in the U.S. and does a massive amount of disaster relief through its foundation. For some, that "boots on the ground" help matters more than a founder's political check.
- Vote with Your Wallet, but with Facts: If you want to boycott, do it based on the company's current lobbying efforts (like their stance on labor laws) rather than the ghost of a retired founder.
In the end, Home Depot's "support" for Trump is a ghost story fueled by the personal actions of its original creators. The company itself is a massive, profit-driven machine that tries very hard to keep both Red and Blue customers coming through the sliding glass doors.
To keep tabs on this yourself, you should periodically check the Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings for "The Home Depot Political Action Committee." These records are public and updated regularly, showing every dollar spent and who received it. This is the only way to get the truth without the filter of a viral meme.