Wilke says Microsoft’s moves could be interpreted charitably or cynically. On one side, it could be read as an attempt to continue supporting the community in less risky ways while warding off attacks from the Trump administration. But on the other hand, it could be “just trying to take our money.”
Supporting the community in "less risky ways" demonstrates that such support was hollow pinkwashing from the very start. If they truly believed in it as a core corporate value, they would be willing to forgo business dependent on accepting transphobia; quarterly profits are clearly more important to them.