Two more corporate donors confirmed Thursday they would no longer support Congressman Steve King over the Iowa Republican’s support of white nationalism and his ties to far-right groups abroad.
Pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc. and utilities provider Black Hills Energy joined the growing list of businesses that are ceasing their funding for King, both companies told HuffPost on Thursday.
“Black Hills Energy’s political action committee has contributed to Rep. Steve King’s campaign, but will no longer do so because of recent statements which conflict with our company values,” said a spokesperson for Black Hills Energy.
Smithfield Foods’ and Black Hills Energy’s decisions follow announcements by several large corporations, including Intel, Purina and Land O’ Lakes, they they have also withdrawn their backing. Most of the political action committees and corporations that have dropped their support also contributed relatively little sums of money to King’s campaign compared with larger donors.
King, an eight-term congressman who has easily defended his seat in the past despite his extreme anti-Islam, anti-immigrant rhetoric and ties to the international far-right, is facing growing public pressure over his recent visit to Austria. HuffPost reported last month that the congressman spouted white nationalist conspiracies and overtly racist ideology in a lengthy interview with far-right Austrian website Unzensuriert. King spoke with the website while on a trip funded in part by a Holocaust remembrance organization.