The Trump administration is investigating Nike. The company is said to have discriminated against whites and men. Trump’s shadow prince is probably behind this.
Feb 5, 2026, 3:44 am02/05/2026, 03:45
The US anti-discrimination agency EEOC has initiated an investigation against the sporting goods manufacturer Nike for alleged discrimination against white employees. In a court document filed on Wednesday, the authority accuses the company of refusing to release data. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating whether Nike selectively discriminated against white employees and applicants through its diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs. Among other things, the question is whether this group was disproportionately affected by layoffs.
In the sights of the Trump administration: sporting goods giant Nike.Image: keystone
DEI standards were introduced into the US federal administration largely at the instigation of then-President Barack Obama. They were greatly expanded under President Joe Biden starting in 2021. Many companies also committed themselves to DEI and adapted their internal processes accordingly. The most important declared goal of DEI is equal opportunities for social minorities through integration and equality.
Nike: “Surprising and unusual escalation”
Nike has so far refused to comply with a comprehensive order and to release information about the ethnic composition of its workforce as well as lists of participants in support programs, according to the application to a federal court in St. Louis. The authority needs this data to determine whether there are violations of the law.
Nike described the petition as a “surprising and unusual escalation.” The sporting goods manufacturer said the company is cooperating with the EEOC and has provided it with thousands of pages of documents. We are committed to fair and lawful employment practices and comply with all applicable laws, including those against discrimination. Its own programs and practices are consistent with these commitments.
With the investigation, President Donald Trump’s administration is stepping up its crackdown on DEI initiatives in the economy. Critics of such programs argue that they undermine the meritocratic principle and lead to “reverse discrimination” against whites and men. EEOC head Andrea Lucas had already stated that many common DEI programs could be unlawful.
The investigations against Nike are not based on an individual complaint, but on a so-called “Commissioner’s Charge” that Lucas initiated independently in May 2024. The organization “America First Legal,” founded by Trump confidant Stephen Miller, had already filed complaints against several major corporations, including Nike, with the EEOC during Biden’s term in office.
Sources used:
- Reuters news agency