Arizona GOP governor reverses course after Betsy Ross flag controversy, now ‘welcomes’ Nike facility

A little more than a week after pulling state incentives from Nike following its decision to pull its Betsy Ross Flag shoes after former NFL star Colin Kaepernick raised issues around them, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) reversed his stance.

Ducey tweeted Thursday welcoming a Nike facility to Goodyear, Ariz., saying the company will bring more than 500 jobs and $184 million to the state.

This is good news for Arizona and for @GoodyearAZGov. 500 plus jobs. Over $184 million in capital investment. Arizona is open for business, and we welcome @Nike to our state. https://t.co/ZLPkcs3dkD

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 11, 2019

Ducey was one of many conservatives to publicly blast Nike and announced he would instruct the state to pull financial incentives for Nike after the company decided not to fully release a Betsy Ross flag sneaker.

{mosads}Nike’s decision was reportedly influenced by Kaepernick, who pointed out the flag’s connection to the country’s era of slavery and the flag’s current use as imagery associated with white nationalism.

“Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike,” Ducey wrote as part of a nine-tweet thread.

Words cannot express my disappointment at this terrible decision. I am embarrassed for Nike. 3/

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019

“Nike has made its decision, and now we’re making ours. I’ve ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars under their discretion that the State was providing for the company to locate here,” he continued in his July 2nd tweets.

Within days of those tweets, Ducey was spotted wearing Nikes out in public.

The Hill has reached out to Ducey’s office for comment.