President Donald Trump is joining many Cracker Barrel fans in calling on the company to reverse course on its new logo.
“Cracker Barrel should go back to the old logo, admit a mistake based on customer response (the ultimate Poll), and manage the company better than ever before,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
The restaurant chain faced backlash from some customers after unveiling a simplified logo on Aug. 19. While many social media users said the new logo erased the brand’s old country feel, some conservatives suggested that the rebrand was rooted in politics.
Cracker Barrel responded to the controversy in a statement on Aug. 25, writing, in part, that “we could’ve done a better job sharing who we are and who we’ll always be.”
“While our logo and remodels may be making headlines, our bigger focus is still right where it belongs…in the kitchen and on your plate,” the statement said.
More: Cracker Barrel responds to backlash over new logo
Trump on Cracker Barrel logo: ‘Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again’
Trump suggested that Cracker Barrel could earn “free publicity” if it reverted to its old logo.
“They got a Billion Dollars worth of free publicity if they play their cards right. Very tricky to do, but a great opportunity. Have a major News Conference today. Make Cracker Barrel a WINNER again,” he wrote.
USA TODAY has reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment.
The president’s response to the backlash comes nearly a week after his son, Donald Trump Jr., weighed in on the new logo in a post on X.
“WTF is wrong with @CrackerBarrel??!” Trump Jr. said on Aug. 20 in response to a post that implied the new logo may be motivated by diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Why is Cracker Barrel’s new logo getting backlash?
Cracker Barrel’s new logo simplifies the previous version by removing the silhouette of a man seated next to a wooden barrel. Instead, the new logo features the restaurant’s name in brown lettering against a golden yellow border.
According to Cracker Barrel’s website, the man in its old logo was meant to represent “the old country store experience where folks would gather around and share stories.”
On social media, customers were quick to take issue with the logo. One person called “cold and sterile” on Cracker Barrel’s Instagram, while another said the new logo “is ruining my life.”
The company’s stock even took a hit in the days after the announcement − dropping by almost $10 in the course of a day on Aug. 20.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says Cracker Barrel ‘should go back to the old logo’
