IFA Responds to U.S. Election Results with Plan to Move Franchising Forward

In a historic upset, businessman Donald Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the heated 2016 presidential election. And now that the results are in, the International Franchise Association is looking ahead and planning its next steps to ensure that its voice—and the voice of America’s 733,000 franchise businesses that support 8 million jobs—is heard.

On Wednesday, the IFA’s President and CEO Robert Cresanti released a statement congratulating President-elect Trump and Congressional Republicans on their victories. He also explained that the organization is looking forward to working with leaders on both sides of the aisle to further the country’s economic growth.

Cresanti said, “This was a truly historic election, however now that the votes are almost fully counted, the real work begins.” He continued, “The American middle class, upward mobility and opportunity have suffered from the years of political gridlock and business as usual. This election marks a sea change in how the American people expect their elected officials to conduct themselves. We have to find the third way, not the Republican way, not the Democrat way, but the American way.”

The IFA also joined over 1,100 members of the business community to present a letter of unity to Trump, expressing their desire to work together to better their industries as well as the economy. The letter was signed by the IFA’s Chairman and Managing Partner of NRD Capital Aziz Hashim.

“We must never forget that we have an ongoing duty to lift everyone up and show how important businesses can be in helping to democratize opportunity for all Americans regardless of their background, education or station in life,” Hashim said.