Ben & Jerry's accuses Unilever of banning Trump criticism

Ben & Jerry's has filed a lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever, claiming it has been silenced regarding criticism of President Donald Trump. The ice cream maker alleges that Unilever's ice cream chief, Peter ter Kulve, unilaterally banned any posts that mention Trump, citing a need for restructuring amid 'unprecedented times.' This legal action comes as Unilever plans to spin off Ben & Jerry's later this year and is accused of attempting to dismantle its independent board and end its political activism. Ben & Jerry's has a long history of advocating for social issues since its founding in 1978, and tensions between the two companies have been escalating since Ben & Jerry's halted sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2021. Many companies have reportedly altered their social policies to align with Trump since his second term began. Unilever has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit's specific allegations.