Kohl's was never a GOP convention sponsor, couldn't have 'pulled out' of deal | Fact check
The claim: Kohl’s ‘pulled out’ of sponsoring Republican National Convention
A June 7 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) claims a department store chain made a political statement.
“Kohl’s has PULLED OUT of the Republican National Convention in a major rebuke to Trump,” reads text in a screenshotted post from X, formerly Twitter.
The post received more than 8,000 likes in three days. The original X post was shared thousands of times.
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Our rating: False
Kohl’s didn’t pull out of anything. The retailer was never a sponsor of the convention in the first place, a company spokesperson said.
Claim distorts CNBC report about RNC sponsorship
The Republican Party is expected to formally make Trump its presidential nominee during its national convention in Milwaukee. It begins July 15 – four days after Trump is sentenced following his conviction in his New York hush-money trial.
But the claim that Kohl’s “pulled out” of the convention is false, since the Wisconsin-based retailer was never an event sponsor, company spokesperson Jen Johnson told USA TODAY.
Fact check: Photo shows Kohl's pride-themed halter tops and underwear for adults, not boys
The claim appears to misrepresent a June 6 CNBC report in which a spokesperson said the department store chain will not sponsor any events related to the convention.
The post also misleads by stating the company's decision is a rebuke of Trump. It does not appear to have anything to do with the former president's conviction in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
The company said in a June 8 statement that it is treating the Republican convention the same way it did when the Democrats held theirs in Milwaukee in 2020. While the retailer is giving money to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, it will not sponsor or participate in any political events, Kohl's said in the statement. It said it “is not a political organization,” does not give money to political candidates or campaigns, does not support political organizations and does not operate a political action committee.
Sponsorship levels for the Republicans’ convention range from $100,000 to $5 million, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in October 2023. A company that pays $5 million to sponsor either the event’s welcome party or the official convention concert, for example, may receive perks including the right to place its name and logo on signs and credentials, VIP access to convention events and an opportunity to promote its business at its own event, according to the report.
Kohl's was founded in 1962 by Maxwell Kohl, the father of late Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl, a Democrat who died in December 2023.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media user for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
Jen Johnson, June 10, Email exchange with USA TODAY
Kohl’s, June 8, Kohl's Political Activity Policy and Milwaukee Events
CNBC, June 6, Milwaukee-based retail giant Kohl’s says ‘No’ to sponsoring Republican convention events
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Post wrongly claims Kohl's 'pulled out' of GOP convention | Fact check
