Donald Trump has been waging a campaign against diversity and equality for years. Immediately after taking office, he abolished diversity programs in U.S. government agencies, shut down equality offices, and the military discharged 1,000 trans soldiers. Now, his pressure is increasingly targeting companies – worldwide.

Corporations like Ford, Disney, and McDonald’s are scaling back their DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives. German companies such as SAP, Aldi Süd, and Telekom are also cutting programs that combat discrimination in the U.S.

Yet DEI programs are essential: they protect marginalized groups from discrimination – for example, through gender quotas, support programs for Black employees, or networks for people with disabilities. They originally emerged in the U.S. out of the civil rights movement and are enshrined in law. Experts emphasize: diversity benefits not only human rights but also the economy.

Nevertheless, more and more companies are giving in to Trump’s pressure – including Telekom. As recently as February, CEO Tim Höttges defended the company's diversity programs. But by April, Telekom had dissolved two advisory boards in the U.S. and abandoned key equality goals. Shortly thereafter, its U.S. subsidiary T-Mobile received approval to acquire cable network operator Lumos – a deal that likely came with the condition of dropping DEI initiatives. The U.S. regulatory authority FCC now makes the abolition of such programs a prerequisite for corporate mergers.

For years, Telekom was seen as a pioneer of diversity – with its internal LGBTIA+ network “Magenta Pride,” Pride Month events, and the Gold “Pride Champion” seal. The retreat in the U.S. is therefore all the more significant. Other German companies are now also scrapping their programs – including SAP, VW, and Aldi Süd.

But there is another way: Apple, Costco, and JP Morgan in the U.S., as well as Deutsche Bank, Adidas, and Lufthansa in Germany, are standing by their DEI commitments & taking a stand.

The consequences of Trump’s policies are dramatic: thousands of people are losing their jobs – many of them dedicated advocates for equality. The ripple effects are also being felt in Germany: SAP is abolishing its women’s quota, and sponsors are pulling out of Pride events.

Telekom’s responsibility is especially great: it holds a majority stake in T-Mobile US, and its CEO Höttges also chairs the supervisory board of the U.S. subsidiary. That gives the company’s leadership direct influence over decisions in the U.S.

As Trump’s policies fuel discrimination, queer people around the world come under increasing pressure, and Pride is set to be banned in Hungary, we need clear voices of opposition. Telekom must position itself as a strong ally for diversity, equality, and inclusion.

We demand: CEO Tim Höttges must publicly take a stand against Trump’s agenda – for a world where human rights are non-negotiable

This campaign is run in cooperation with Campact, CSD Deutschland & LSVD+.