Following news that Nordstrom would drop Ivanka Trump's clothing line due to declining sales, President Trump tweeted Wednesday that the department store has treated her "so unfairly."
My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!
He also retweeted it from the official @POTUS account, and shared it on Facebook and Instagram.
A spokesperson for Nordstrom previously told BuzzFeed News the brand was cut due to lagging sales, saying the company carries “thousands of brands” and makes “buying decisions based on performance.”
“Each year we cut about 10% and refresh our assortment with about the same amount,” a Nordstrom spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. “In this case, based on the brand’s performance we’ve decided not to buy it for this season.”
On Wednesday, a Nordstrom spokesperson reiterated that the decision was based on declining sales, adding that Ivanka Trump had been informed of the move in early January.
"To reiterate what we've already shared when asked, we made this decision based on performance," a company spokesperson told BuzzFeed News. "Over the past year and particularly in the last half of 2016, sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didn't make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now.
"We've had a great relationship with the Ivanka Trump team. We've had open conversations with them over the past year to share what we've seen and Ivanka was personally informed of our decision in early January," the spokesperson said.
At a press conference on Wednesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer called Nordstrom's decision an "attack" and said Trump had "every right as a father" to defend his family.
Here's @PressSec defending Trump's tweet slamming @Nordstrom for dropping Ivanka's brand.
"I think this was less about his family business than an attack on his daughter," Spicer said.
"And I think for people to take out their concern about his actions or his executive orders on members of his family, he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success," he said.
Spicer rejected Nordstrom's statement that the decision was based on brand performance, saying it was a "direct attack" on Trump's policies.
.@HallieJackson: Nordstrom says dropping Ivanka was a biz decision due to sales Spicer: This is a direct attack on… https://t.co/AHKDRpS81a
"I think there's clearly a targeting of her brand and her name," he said. "There's clearly efforts to undermine that name based on her father's positions on particular policies he's taken."
"This is a direct attack on his policies and her name," he said.
The brand's removal from Nordstrom follows efforts by the #GrabYourWallet campaign to boycott businesses from which the Trump family profits.
Nordstrom isn't the only store that has recently cut the first daughter's collection.
A spokesperson for Ivanka Trump's collection previously told BuzzFeed News that Nordstrom had already purchased spring apparel from the brand and would move inventory to their physical stores.
“The Ivanka Trump brand continues to expand across categories and distribution with increased customer support, leading us to experience significant year-over-year revenue growth in 2016,” Rosemary K. Young, the brand’s senior director of marketing, told BuzzFeed News.
“We believe that the strength of a brand is measured not only by the profits it generates, but the integrity it maintains. The women behind the brand represent a diverse group of professionals and we are proud to say that the Ivanka Trump brand continues to embody the principles upon which it was founded. It is a company built to inspire women with solution-oriented offerings, created to celebrate and service the many aspects of their lives,” she said.
Reacting on Twitter, people were confused as to why President Trump criticized the department store's decision instead of, well, doing a whole bunch of other stuff.
Donald Trump has officially criticized @Nordstrom more than he’s criticized Russia. https://t.co/i0Aox5sB2i
Wait, Trump tweeted about Nordstrom hurting his daughters bottom line? (Still waiting on tweet about Quebec)
-1 SEAL KIA, 3 wounded -30 dead civilians -No intel -banned from Yemen But yeah lets talk about your daughter's cl… https://t.co/hlbqVaMFMF
Trump: THE WORLD IS ON FIRE AND WE HAVE NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE...but first a few words about Nordstrom
Some even questioned whether Trump's tweet may constitute a conflict of interest.
CC: @OfficeGovEthics https://t.co/9hy6OgfA9m
A sitting President is tweeting about his families business relations with Nordstrom. Can you say conflict of inter… https://t.co/6UywSirZ3i
Note to @realDonaldTrump: Office of the President should not be used for purpose of benefitting or enriching your f… https://t.co/iQzddznNks
Though, of course, there are others on Trump's side with this.
Man defends daughter against pathetically petty act of political spite by corporate entity - and HE'S the villain. #nordstrom #trump #ivanka
We will never shop at #Nordstrom they are part of the problem with this country! #BoycottNordstrom… https://t.co/5BQXZl48Xr
Some are thanking Nordstrom for the decision, saying they plan to shop there even more now.
If you can afford it. This week is a great week to buy something from Nordstrom. https://t.co/oGPND93zPC
Hey @Nordstrom I am a huge fan and love to shop with you ! Even more so because you support love and kindness over racists.
And many have pointed out it was merely a business decision.
if Ivanka's brand was successful, Nordstrom would sell it come on, man, you don't see Nordstrom out in these streets washing lepers' feet
And obviously, there were jokes:
"Mr Trump has never shopped at Nordstrom and that includes their full line of soft and luxurious bathrobes. Period."
Damn. I was going to go get lunch. Now I have to go to Nordstrom's to buy expensive socks to support them in the war against our president.
I see @Nordstrom and Congress have swapped roles: one checks the executive branch, the other is bought by rich people.