Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue defends value of work, says 'evil' is to blame for inflationary policies



Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue blamed "evil" for the high prices facing Americans in this inflationary economy, calling out the Biden administration for pursuing policies he said intentionally disincentivize work.

Unanue was interviewed on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" Thursday when he said that the government is fueling inflation with policies that discourage able people from reentering the workforce.

"At the core of inflation, and it's out of control, especially in food, is evil. Our desire to control us," he told host Tucker Carlson. "When I was a child, my parents said, never take candy from a stranger. And they're giving out candy, incentivizing people not to work. They're taking away our purpose, our spirit, our reason to get up every day. And they're doing it without their own candy. They're taking our candy, and using it to incentivize us not to, that's very inflationary."

Data from August showed that inflation grew 8.3% year over year as the economy exited the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House celebrated that the 8.3% number was lower than the 8.5% inflation reported in July, but for Americans struggling to buy groceries, the top-line inflation numbers make little difference.

Food prices have soared to record-breaking levels, with grocery costs expected to rise an average of 11% by the end of the year. That would be the largest year-on-year increase since 1974, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Labor Department data shows that since last year, Americans are paying substantially more for staples like eggs (38%), chicken (16.6%), milk (15.6%), potatoes (13.3%), rice (12.7%) and fresh fruits and vegetables (8.2%), Fox News reported.

On top of rising prices, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says there is a labor shortage caused by hiring rates being outpaced by the number of people quitting their jobs since November 2020. Durable goods manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and education and health services industries are each facing worker shortages.

Though both the Trump and Biden administrations spent billions of dollars on COVID-19 relief payments to people who lost their jobs or refused to work during the pandemic, Unanue described how Goya Foods "never stopped working" and defended the value of work.

"Work is essential. It gives us our reason," he said.

He went on to praise the new presumptive prime minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, who in 2019 gave a speech decrying how global "financial speculators" have sought to undermine national and religious identity to make people "the perfect consumer."

"You know, God -- I love this gal Meloni from Italy, you know she has this 'fascist' speak, God, family, country. You know, you need to have a purpose. She says we all have our genetic code. Each one of us is made in the likeness of God with our own identity. So we all have a purpose," Unanue said. "Now, you take that purpose away by the very few who want to own us, enslave us, control us, for their own greed and power."

Goya Foods board silences pro-Trump CEO for questioning election results



The board of Goya Foods has voted to muzzle its co-owner and CEO Robert Unanue from speaking publicly after the Trump-supporting chief executive questioned the results of the presidential election during a recent media appearance, the New York Post reported.

What are the details?

Last Friday, the nine-member board of the Hispanic foods giant voted by majority to censure Unanue over controversial remarks he made to the media following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, including an appearance on Fox Business Network last week during which he called the election of President Joe Biden "unverified."

"I think this is mission accomplished. Mission accomplished by the union, the partnership, the conglomerate of social media, Big Tech, big media, and government, big government, for ushering in the dawn of a new world order — this great reset — with an unverified election, and the big prize is the United States," Unanue told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo on Jan. 20.

Those comments were reportedly the tipping point for board members, who initiated the censure vote two days later. The vote by majority to silence Unanue means he will no longer be able to speak to the media without the board's permission, the Post noted.

"Bob does not speak for Goya Foods when he speaks on TV," Goya board member and third-generation owner Andy Unanue told the news outlet ahead of the vote. "The family has diverse views on politics, but politics is not part of our business. Our political point of views are irrelevant."

An anonymous source speaking to CNN about the matter referred to the censure as a "full stop" on Robert Unanue speaking to the media and added that "his statements are insulting and dangerous."

What's the background?

Unanue, 67, rose to fame in conservative circles last year after he spoke out in support of then-President Trump at a White House roundtable event promoting the Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, an executive order signed by Trump intended to improve educational and economic opportunities for Hispanic Americans.

"We're all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like President Trump, who is a builder," he said during the event.

The comments immediately triggered a boycott movement of Goya Foods led by progressive politicians such as Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In response, conservatives rallied to buy Goya products.

What else?

Unanue confirmed his censure to the Post but refused to comment on it directly. Instead, he acknowledged that moving forward he would refrain from making his political views public.

"Independently, I've made the decision to lower the temperature and walk away from speaking about politics and religion," he said. "I realize it's important because of the diverse views of the company and our market."

"I don't believe I should speak politically or in a faith-based manner on behalf of the company," he added. "But I leave open the possibility of speaking on behalf of myself."