Republican AGs Raise Concerns Over Apple’s Entrepreneur Program Exclusion of White and Asian Men

A coalition of 14 Republican attorneys general is taking a stand against Apple’s latest “Entrepreneurship Camp” program, which excludes white and Asian men. Led by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the GOP officials sent a stern warning to Apple on Wednesday, arguing that the tech giant’s discriminatory practices may be illegal.

The controversy began after Apple announced that it was accepting applications for its Entrepreneur Camp, a program designed exclusively for minorities and women. The application criteria have sparked outrage, with many conservatives arguing that the program blatantly discriminates based on race and gender.

In a letter addressed to Apple’s Senior Vice President Katherine Adams, the Republican attorneys general criticized the program for its exclusionary approach, warning that it could violate federal anti-discrimination laws. The letter expressed deep concern over Apple’s fixation on race and sex, urging the company to rethink its strategy.

Key Points:

• 14 Republican attorneys general warned Apple that its Entrepreneur Camp program, which excludes white and Asian men, may be illegal.

• The GOP officials argue that the program violates federal anti-discrimination laws and promotes social division through intentional exclusion.

• Apple’s program only invites applications from “female,* Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous” developers,** sparking backlash for its discriminatory practices.

“Apple should abandon this wrong-headed and exclusionary approach,” the attorneys general wrote. “As it stands, the program reflects a troubling fixation on race and sex—and looks to run afoul of anti-discrimination laws. While supporting up-and-coming developers may be a laudable goal, this harmful strategy is not the way to do it.”

The letter also highlighted that Apple’s practices could have widespread implications, particularly since the company sells products and recruits talent from the states represented by the signatories. By hosting some of these camps remotely, the letter argued, Apple is effectively exporting discrimination to these states.

Joining Morrisey in signing the letter were the attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas.

Apple faced backlash from conservatives when it posted the requirements for the Entrepreneur Camp on August 13. The program claimed to support underrepresented founders and developers, emphasizing the inclusion of “female,* Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous” applicants. The asterisks around “female” linked to a note explaining Apple’s belief in gender expression as a fundamental right, further fueling the controversy.

The Republican attorneys general suggested that Apple could achieve its goal of supporting underrepresented individuals without resorting to race- and sex-based classifications. They proposed alternative methods, such as targeting individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds or those who lack access to elite educational institutions.

This situation reflects a broader trend of backlash against corporations implementing woke policies and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements. As more companies face criticism for their approaches, the tension between corporate practices and legal scrutiny is likely to intensify.

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