Howard Schultz's final speech as Starbucks CEO sounded more like a stump speech than a farewell, the Financial Times reported.
"It was filled with references not to gluten-free baked goods but 'rising nationalism,' the need for 'shared values' and a call to build 'a great and enduring America,'" Rana Foroohar wrote.
"Schultz and [incoming chief executive Kevin Johnson] highlighted the company's hiring of at-risk groups like socio-economically disadvantaged youth, veterans, military spouses, and refugees, as well as the corporate commitments to areas such as healthcare and education."
The question has been posed before as Schultz has often voiced his thoughts on political issues, including in 2016 when he described the political process as "bombastic" and a "circus." He has also made Starbucks part of the national conversation on issues like race relations, gun violence (guns are not allowed in stores), gay rights, veterans rights, and student debt.
"Since we have stores in every community in America, how can we use our scale for good?" he said last year when he announced he would no longer lead Starbucks.
Schultz said he has no plans to run for president and believes he has "a role to play to elevate the national conversation, both in the U.S. and around the world," after he steps down, per the Financial Times.