Macy’s cuts ties with Trump

Macy’s is pulling Donald Trump-branded merchandise from its stores following the public outcry over his comments on immigrants.

The department store said in a statement to the news outlet that it was “disappointed and distressed” over the 2016 presidential contender’s remarks, describing them as “disparaging characterizations.”

“In light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy’s values, we have decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump and will phase-out the Trump menswear collection, which has been sold at Macy’s since 2004,” they said, according to CNN. 

{mosads}The outlet store has been carrying Trump’s Signature Collection since 2004. The merchandise includes dress shirts, ties, suits and accessories such as cufflinks, tie clips and money clips. Trump has also appeared in the store’s commercials.

Trump in a statement Wednesday claimed that he “decided to terminate” the relationship with Macy’s “because of the pressure being put on them by outside sources.”

“While selling Trump ties and shirts at Macy’s is a small business in terms of dollar volume, my principles are far more important and therefore much more valuable,” Trump said. 

He also suggested that he may start a new product line elsewhere in the future with goods “made in America.” 

“Clearly, NBC and Macy’s support illegal immigration, which is totally detrimental to the fabric of our once great country,” he said. “Both Macy’s and NBC totally caved at the first sight of potential difficulty with special interest groups who are nothing more than professional agitators, who are not looking out for the people they purport to represent, but only for themselves.”

Trump in a later tweet called for a boycott of the retail giant.

For all of those who want to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain, boycott @Macys. They are weak on border security & stopping illegal immigration.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2015

A petition posted to the MoveOn.org website urging Macy’s to dump Trump received more than 700,000 signatures as of Wednesday. 

Macy’s joins Univision and NBCUniversal in cutting ties with Trump following remarks he made during his campaign kickoff event two weeks ago. 

“They’re sending people who have a lot of problems,” Trump said of illegal immigration from Mexico. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Trump blasted the decisions by Univision and NBC to not air the “Miss Universe” and “Miss USA” pageants, which he co-owns.

He will also not appear as the face of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” during his White House campaign.

This story was updated at 1:07 p.m.