AKRON, Ohio — Akron’s own rock star Patrick Carney of the Black Keys has weighed in on the Goodyear controversy started Wednesday by President Donald Trump.
Carney, a Firestone High School graduate who now lives in Nashville but for whom Akron still holds a special place in his heart, tweeted late last night about the president’s call to boycott the tire manufacturer. He cited his family's own roots with the company, as his grandfather was vice president of the research and development department.
"I will always only use Goodyear tires," Carney wrote. "They are why I'm from Akron...Goodyear is one of the most loyal companies to the American Midwest."
The Black Keys duo of Carney and Dan Auerbach formed in Akron in 2001. Both grew up in same neighborhood and became friends at Firestone.
On Wednesday, Trump tweeted "Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES - They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS," after a Goodyear employee shared a photo allegedly taken during "diversity training. Goodyear said later Wednesday that all partisan political messaging is banned, and denied their corporate offices had anything to do with the graphic or that it took place during a diversity training class.
'I'M NOT HAPPY WITH GOODYEAR': President Trump explains his call to boycott Akron-based company
The president's tweet brought an immediate backlash, including from Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (both Democrats). But Carney, it seems, is the first rock star to share his opinion.
Goodyear employees plan to hold a rally in response to Trump at 11 a.m. Thursday. Workers from United Steelworkers Local 2 will host the event at their headquarters on Kelly Avenue, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan will be among those in attendance.