Former Rouses Markets CEO Donald Rouse Sr. publicly apologized for his attendance at the 'Stop the Steal' rally in Washington DC, clarifying that he did not understand the implications of insurrection at the time and disavowing any support for the far‐right narrative. He expressed regret over the negative impact on his employees, customers, and community, reaffirming his longstanding commitment to serving marginalized communities.

Co-owner and former CEO Donald Rouse Sr. was photographed among supporters of President Donald Trump during a pro-Trump mob event in Washington, D.C. Although he later condemned the insurrection and stated he left before violence erupted, his presence alongside the mob prompted calls for boycotts, severed ties with organizations such as the NAACP, and the return of a $20,000 donation from a community organization.

The article highlights that Donald Rouse Sr., co-owner of Rouses Markets, attended and publicized images from the January 6 protest at the Capitol. His involvement, alongside other insurrectionists, has led university officials and community voices to call for cutting ties with the supermarket, arguing that such political engagement undermines democratic values and reflects alignment with far-right ideologies.

A photo of former chief executive Donald Rouse Sr. at the January 6 D.C. election-results protest, in which he explicitly supported President Trump, has led to boycott calls. Community organizations, including the NAACP and the Urban League, condemned his actions, with the NAACP even ending its longstanding relationship with Rouses Markets.

Rouses Markets co-owner Donald Rouse Sr. became embroiled in controversy after a photo emerged showing him and his former HR director at a Trump rally outside the U.S. Capitol during the events of January 2021. Despite later stating that he left before the violence escalated and condemning the breach, his presence at the rally has triggered widespread backlash including boycott calls and the severing of ties by local organizations such as the NAACP and the Krewe of Red Beans.