Editing Robert Rowling (section)

==Political activities==
He is a conservative [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and a major donor to the party.<ref>{{cite news|title=Robert Rowling is the billionaire Dallas doesn't know|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-Rowling_24bus.ART.State.Edition1.4ddcaca.html|date=August 24, 2008|accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref> He is also one of four billionaire backers of the conservative political action group [[American Crossroads]].<ref>{{cite news|title="Grassroots" Rove-linked group funded almost entirely by billionaires|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/07/23/rove_group_billionaire_donors|date=Jul 23, 2010|accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Karl Rove-Linked Conservative Group, American Crossroads, Adapts to New Campaign Finance Landscape|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/08/karl-rove-linked-conservative-group.html|date=August 19, 2010|accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rove Returns, With Team, Planning G.O.P. Push|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/us/26rove.html?|date=September 25, 2010|accessdate=September 28, 2010|work=The New York Times|first=Jim|last=Rutenberg}}</ref> According to an article published in ''[[Forbes]]'', four [[San Francisco]] Gold's Gym franchises split off from the brand after Rowling made a $2 million donation to Karl Rove's [[American Crossroads]] [[political action committee|PAC]], sparking protest from gay rights advocates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gold's Gym Franchises Revolt Against Billionaire Owner For Funding Rove Group|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/clareoconnor/2010/10/26/golds-gym-franchises-revolt-against-billionaire-owner-for-funding-rove-group|accessdate=October 28, 2010|newspaper=[[Forbes]]|date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> TRT Holdings has also given an additional $2.5 million from the company treasury this election cycle, according to public filings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gold's Gym Faces Backlash After CEO Gives to GOP Group|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golds-gym-faces-backlash-after-ceo-gives-to-gop-group/|access-date=October 28, 2010|newspaper=[[CBS news]]|date=October 26, 2010|first=Stephanie|last=Condon}}</ref> He commented to Fox News, explaining that his donation to American Crossroads had nothing to do with social policies that could spark crossfire. "I've never heard one discussion of a social issue. This is all about fiscal sanity."<ref>{{cite news|title=This Isn't Working Out: Gold's Gym Franchises Split with Parent Co. Over CEO's American Crossroads Donation|url=http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/26/isnt-working-out-golds-gym-franchises-split-parent-co-over-ceos-american-crossroads-donat|accessdate=October 28, 2010|newspaper=[[Fox News Channel]]|date=October 26, 2010}}</ref>

In April 2020, Governor [[Greg Abbott]] named Rowling to the Strike Force to Open Texas – a group "tasked with finding safe and effective ways to slowly reopen the state" amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-abbott-introduces-strike-force-to-reopen-texas/285-b7a72787-706e-47f6-856d-0818909de8b9|title=These are the experts, leaders working with Gov. Abbott's strike force to reopen Texas|website=khou.com|date=17 April 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>