The CEO of the car mat company has pledged to keep manufacturing based in the US.
The CEO of the car mat company has pledged to keep manufacturing based in the US.
President Donald Trump has made an unexpected choice for his nomination to the Federal Trade Commission: WeatherTech’s founder and CEO David MacNeil.
Founded in 1989, according to its website, MacNeil leads the company which produces weather-resistant car mats and maintains complete ownership of it. WeatherTech is dedicated to keeping its production and jobs within the US. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson commended MacNeil on X, describing him as an “excellent businessman and a true patriot,” and shared a video segment where MacNeil expressed his dedication to US manufacturing. Should he be confirmed, MacNeil would fill the third seat of the panel previously held by Melissa Holyoak, who is now serving as a US Attorney in Utah.
MacNeil’s credentials are somewhat atypical for a commissioner of the FTC. Most members have backgrounds in law, academia, or prior experience on Capitol Hill. MacNeil is a reported billionaire who recently acquired a mansion for $75 million near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. He has been a Republican donor, supporting Trump, but in 2018, he threatened to withdraw financial support from candidates unwilling to back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative.
Nevertheless, his experience could align with some of the current enforcement and regulatory objectives of the FTC, including the enforcement of the Made in the USA Labeling Rule to guard against misleading marketing practices. MacNeil must gain confirmation from the Senate, where Democrats will likely object to Trump’s lack of nominations for Democrats to fill the typically five-member panel following the firing of two members contrary to Supreme Court rulings.
