New Balance have denied that they are now to be known as 'the official shoes of white people.'

The sportswear company has been forced to say that it has "mutual respect for people around the world" after the claims made by the American neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer. Certain customers have either burned or destroyed their runners outside shops in the US, after the firm apparently showed praise for Donald Trump's trade plans. Vice-president of the company Matt LeBretton had said that President Barack Obama had "turned a deaf ear" to US politics. "Frankly, with President-elect Trump, we feel things are going to move in the right direction," he added. Now, the company has been forced to deny that it has ties to the alt-right. "As a 110-year old company with five factories in the US and thousands of employees worldwide from all races, genders, cultures and sexual orientations, New Balance is a values-driven organisation and culture that believes in humanity, integrity, community and mutual respect for people around the world. "We have been and always will be committed to manufacturing in the United States." Certain people are not convinced. "Is this the corporate equivalent of "some of my friends are black?" asked one Twitter user. "You can stand behind trade policies, you can't legitimately stand behind a racist/misogynist bully. You should be embarrassed," said another. Others, however, supported New Balance's position. "Don't know why people are getting ****** at your company. It's one of the few shoe manufactures left in the USA," wrote a supporter. "Never stop buying your shoes just because of your political beliefs. Freedom to choose is what makes our country great," another posted.