Equinox Owner Raises $13 Million for Trump Re-Election

A re-election fundraiser for Donald Trump raised more than $13 million for the 2020 election, despite its host, Stephen Ross, being the subject of a widespread boycott after news broke last week that he was the chair of the umbrella company for chains like SoulCycle and Equinox.

"[Steven] Ross got into a little bit of trouble this week, I said, 'Steve welcome to the world of politics!" Trump said to more than 500 people at the Bridgehampton according to the Los Angeles Blade. The event was hosted at the mansion of Joe Farrel, a developer and associate of Stephen Ross.

About 100 protesters which included some West Hollywood officials, gathered in front of Equinox and SoulCycle facilities during the event, shouting "Hey Hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go. Hey Hey, Ho Ho, 45 has got to go" and "Boycott Equinox, boycott Equinox," as they blew horns driving along Sunset Boulevard according to the paper.

"Ross is a hypocrite. If he claims to support racial equality, women's rights and [environmental] issues why is he giving to Trump; he has proven how opposed he is to all of those issues," said Gonzolo Garcia, one of the organizers of the boycott.

Garcia said he helped organize the event because he believed "people have become complacent."

"When I saw the news I couldn't take it anymore," he said to the Los Angeles Blade "So we planned the protest. I didn't want to just sit behind my computer sharing the story, wondering if someone was going to do something. I think it's still good to protest and make your voices heard."

A lesbian Equinox member said that she had been reluctant to cancel her gym membership, "At first I saw this as an impossible purity protest," she told the Los Angeles Blade "Why would I quit Equinox but not cancel my vacation at the Marriott? Both hide their homophobia behind rainbow flags, just like nearly every corporation in America," she said. "I doubt there's a single company that hasn't donated to Republicans or Trump -- but we don't have to be blind anymore."

During the fundraiser Trump gloated about how he "loves coming to the Hamptons," telling his donors, "I know the Hamptons well, everyone here votes for me but they won't admit it."

Stephen Ross is one among many other billionaires that have come to light about their support for Donald Trump -- yesterday actor Armie Hammer, called out Marvel's chairman Isaac Perlmutter for being one of Trump's largest donors.

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