CONSTANTINO: Why I Bet My Company to Support President Trump
Three months ago when a bullet hit President Trump and I immediately spoke up to support him, everyone told me I was nuts or worse. But it turned out to be the best decision I ever made...
This guest post is authored by Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino. His company is one of the largest custom printing shops in the world, employing over 1,200 people in 39 countries. He has created thousands of manufacturing jobs in the United States.
5 minutes after a bullet hit President Trump I acted. While on the barber’s chair in Mexico City, I drafted a message that became the most viral endorsement of President Trump.
My message was thoughtful, simple and unifying. “I support Trump. Many at Sticker Mule do. Many don't. The political hate needs to stop,” I wrote in a post on X that racked up 12 million impressions. Then I reinforced it with an email to 5 million customers:
Donald Trump was shot.
I don’t care what your political views are but the hate for Trump and his supporters has gone too far.
People are terrified to admit they support Trump.
I’ve been scared myself. Americans shouldn’t live in fear.
I support Trump. Many at Sticker Mule do.
Many at Sticker Mule also support Biden.
The political hate needs to stop.
Today a bullet almost killed Donald Trump.
He’s got 5 kids. One’s still a teenager.
No one should have to die and sacrifice the happiness of their family to run for office.
If Donald Trump can risk that, the least the rest of us can do is vocalize our support and help end the hate.
The more people realize that kind-hearted, compassionate people support Trump, the sooner the hate will end.
I’m speaking up today and will do more in the future to stop this insane political hate.
Awesome people, all over the world, love Trump. Don’t limit your friendships, and diminish your happiness by indulging in political hate.
Vocalize your support. Stop the hate.
Anthony Constantino
Cofounder, Sticker Mule
An immediate reaction came from what felt like the entire Internet. Millions posted on social media, millions of angry emails poured in and thousands made videos to discuss my message. Many were supportive; far too many wrote death threats and called for me to commit suicide.
Trump supporting friends called to check on me and encouraged me to stand down out of concern for my safety and the well being of Sticker Mule, while – shockingly – many friends on the left called to praise my message of unity.
A traditional media firestorm followed with coveraging coming from all outlets, left and right, and to my surprise, most were fair and positive towards my endorsement of President Trump.
When the dust settled my team encouraged me to declare “mission accomplished,” take the easy path and return to normal life. It was tempting, but I kept thinking about all the people who stood up for President Trump and were mercilessly bullied into silence and submission.
I also thought about how Americans, like Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and Rudy Giuliani lost nearly everything standing by President Trump.
And I read with disgust, as partisan Democrats joked about the assassination attempt that took the life of Corey Compertore whose only sin was happily supporting his favorite President.
Rather than retreat, I directed my energy toward stopping hate and securing President Trump a landslide victory. I took a unique approach, remaining happy and respectful as I brainstormed “magic tricks” to generate multiple positive new cycles for President Trump.
I spun up StickerPAC, an innovative Political Action Committee, that gave away millions of happy, uplifting stickers that spread messages like “Awesome People Love Trump” and “Trump for Peace” to help people share their support for President Trump in a positive way.
I executive produced a Trump supportive rap song called “Say What You Mean” that went #1 on Worldstar Hip-Hop, quickly racked up 2+ million views, and got it on urban airwaves to dispel the ridiculous myth that Trump supporters are not racially diverse.
I threw up radio ads and billboards in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state, that President Trump won. I ultimately spent, either via my PAC or direct contributions to the campaign, more than $1 million dollars to reelect President Trump.
I did all this while Democrats waged war on my company. They harassed customers to drop Sticker Mule, “review bombed” negative reviews and even banned us from multiple subreddits including /r/stickers, the #1 reddit community for our business. That ban had downstream effects on everything from search to paid advertising costs. But I kept moving forward.
The overall theme of my efforts were simple. Hate for President Trump and his supporters was wrong and inappropriate. People who support President Trump have BIG hearts and it is okay to admit you like him.
Ultimately, I decided the best way to share my message was to install the country’s largest ‘Vote for Trump’ sign atop my tallest factory building in Amsterdam, NY.
I assembled a team of local artists to design and handcraft the sign that cost more than $250,000 to build and install.
People started calling me from all over the country wanting to come see me light the sign for the first time. Henry Cejudo, 2 Division UFC Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, canceled a family vacation to come see it and brought two more UFC champions, Kelvin Gastelum and Tracey Cortez, with him. Others flew in from as far away as California.
I planned a huge party to celebrate the sign and show people it’s okay to admit you support President Trump. Immediately, local Democrats went nutso and hit me with a restraining order banning me from lighting or displaying the sign under threat of arrest.
I had to retain two high-powered attorneys to navigate the situation. As the crowd gathered they negotiated for hours with a judge in an emergency session about the restraining order. I kept asking for updates and they responded, “Anthony, if you light the sign, you will be arrested.”
Eventually I found myself in front of 5,000 people with a difficult decision to make. Do I light the sign to the delight of the crowd and get arrested? Or do I disappoint them and play it safe? At the last moment, just as I was about to step atop a Cybertruck to address the crowd, my lawyers rang with good news. The judge vacated the restraining order and I was clear to display and light the sign for the first time.
I gave my first, and perhaps best, political speech to the delight of the crowd and celebrated a great night and victory for free speech. But, the election wasn’t over yet. I kept thinking what more could I do to change the vibe and re-elect President Trump.
I quickly threw another massive day-long rally that garnered local coverage. Then I took my arguments to Manhattan, renting a jazz club, and holding a “Meet a Trump Supporter” event which flipped every Democrat who came to vote for Trump.
Finally, I decided my last act was to hold the biggest Election Night Party in America in front of my ‘Vote for Trump’ sign. I wanted to keep the sign and positive energy in the news by planning a massive party – inviting Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to celebrate Democracy and promote unity.
It worked. 5000+ happy people with political views across the spectrum partied together in front of the sign. 5 different musical acts performed everything from country to reggaeton, to pop and soul.
As it became clear President Trump was going to win, a previously unknown singer named Kamaya Forester, shocked the crowd with a jaw dropping cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.”
Three months ago when a bullet hit President Trump and I immediately spoke up to support him, everyone told me I was nuts or worse. I only did what I thought was right, as I always try to do, and it turned out to be the best decision I ever made.
President Trump won a landslide reelection that unified America and marks the beginning of a happy new era in American, and perhaps world, history. It is an honor to say I played a small part in making it happen.
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Great piece by Anthony. Inspiring!!
Thank you for sharing this.