Olive Garden refutes viral tweet that it donated to Trump’s 2020 campaign

Olive Garden on Sunday disputed the contents of a viral tweet that alleged the company donated to President Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, sparking calls for a boycott of the Italian restaurant chain.

A tweet Sunday went viral with nearly 50,000 retweets that accused Olive Garden of contributing to Trump’s 2020 campaign, writing: “It would be terrible if you shared this and Olive Garden lost business.”

“We don’t know where this information came from, but it is incorrect,” Olive Garden tweeted in response Sunday night. “Our company does not donate to presidential candidates.”

We don’t know where this information came from, but it is incorrect. Our company does not donate to presidential candidates.

— Olive Garden (@olivegarden) August 26, 2019

In another reply to a Twitter user who alleged Olive Garden’s parent company, Darden Restaurants Inc., donated to Trump, Olive Garden made clear that “Darden does not donate to federal candidates.”

To clarify, Darden does not donate to federal candidates.

— Olive Garden (@olivegarden) August 26, 2019

When reached for comment by The Hill, the Olive Garden reiterated its response from Sunday night’s tweet.

{mosads}It is unclear where the call to boycott Olive Garden originated. A Twitter user posted a list earlier this month of all companies that are supposedly supporting Trump’s reelection campaign, and the Olive Garden was among the firms listed. The tweet garnered nearly 250,000 retweets and more than 550,000 likes.

But The Washington Post debunked the widely shared list, pointing out the contributions are from individuals who likely work for the companies and not the companies themselves.

So here’s a list of companies supporting Trump’s re-election:
– Bang
– inn n out
– chick fil a
– Taco Bell
– McDonald’s
– Wendy’s
– KFC
– Pizza Hut
– Olive Garden
– Waffle House
– IHOP
– Carl’s Jr.

So if you see me starting to get thinner and toned don’t ask me why.

— Costa (@BillyBobSanderz) August 8, 2019

Twitter trends calling for boycotts have become increasingly popular in recent weeks, most recently when it was reported that Equinox and SoulCycle fitness chains founder Stephen Ross was hosting a fundraiser for Trump at his home in the Hamptons.

Updated at 1:27 p.m.