Trump, you’re fired! — or maybe not.
Groupon fans weren’t sure what to think after the daily-deals site yanked its ads from the Web site of Donald Trump’s TV show, “The Apprentice,” only to turn around and pitch a discounted stay at one of his Atlantic City hotels.
Groupon said yesterday it would stop its ads from appearing on the Trump site after getting complaints from customers about the possible presidential contender’s political views. But the same day it announced the decision, Groupon offered a deal on a stay at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
Groupon spokeswoman Julie Mossler chalked it up to “bizarre” timing.
The deal had been arranged well in advance before the company was confronted with an online petition on Thursday asking it to stop sending ad dollars Trump’s way, the company said.
“There was a flurry of activity on e-mail, Twitter and Facebook” pressuring Groupon to end its association with Trump’s show, Mossler said. Trump has been a controversial political player of late by attacking President Obama and flirting with a run for the White House.
Groupon said it has never advertised on “The Apprentice” TV show and only indirectly sponsored banner ads on the show’s site. Groupon said the ads were placed by third-party Internet ad network.
Nevertheless, Groupon promised to stop the ads, saying it was not a political decision but a way to avoid getting caught up in the political debate.
“We aren’t taking a stance either way — we have no desire to be involved in the Trump-Obama debate,” Mossler said.