Trumps latest tweet reads, "For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!"
Scott Paul, the president of a manufacturing association, called Alliance for American Manufacturing, just became the fourth executive to bail from Trump's manufacturing council, quitting on Tuesday.
He joined the CEOs of Merck, Under Armour and Intel, who all left the council Monday. The American Manufacturing Council is a group, which Trump established in January with about two dozen members, who are supposed to meet occasionally and offer the president advice on job growth. Several CEOs have left the council due to Trump's failure to denounce white supremacists groups in a timely and full manor after three were killed and many were injured protesting a white supremacist rally.
First to leave the manufacturing council after Charlottesville violence, was Kenneth Frazier, CEO of the company Merck. Renowned as one of the most prominent black executives in the United States, Frazier, was once a lawyer who helped free a black man on death row, who was falsely accused of murder. He now is president of one of the country's most powerful drug companies.
He is no stranger to taking political stances. In a statement he claimed, "Our country's strength stems from its diversity... America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal."
Quickly to reply Trump went to Twitter saying, "Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council, he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!" Followed up by another tweet where he continued to bash Merck for raising drug prices, and taking jobs overseas.
On Monday, Under Armour also released a statement, claiming the company, "engages in innovation and sports, not politics," and that Under Armour, "promotes unity, diversity, and inclusion." The company later tweeted, "I love our country & company. I am stepping down from the council to focus on inspiring & uniting through power of sport. - CEO Kevin Plank" Later on Monday, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced his resignation from the manufacturing council in a blog post on Intel's policy blog. Writing, "I resigned to call attention to the serious harm our divided political climate is causing to critical issues, including the serious need to address the decline of American manufacturing..."
He then continued to directly reference the violence in Charlottesville and finished off saying, "I resigned because I want to make progress, while many in Washington seem more concerned with attacking anyone who disagrees with them. We should honor — not attack — those who have stood up for equality and other cherished American values."
These four executives have jumped ship, still, many others remain on the Council, but this doesn't come without high pressure from activists groups. There are still 20 members on Trump's manufacturing council, activists have started petitions and a social media campaign with the hashtag #QuitTheCouncil.
Dow chemical, General Electric, Whirlpool, Campbell Soup, International Paper, Johnson & Johnson and Nucor have denounced hate, bigotry, and racism, but believe it is important to participate in discussions about manufacturing.
Dell has said there was no change on how they engage with the Trump Administration, and other CEOs in the council have failed to comment at all on the issue. This of course isn't the first time executives have left different councils.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as well as Disney chief Robert Iger stepped down from their roles on White House advisory councils following Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement; and former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick also said he would no longer participate in the White House economic council following Trump’s travel ban from certain countries, back in February.
On Wednesday after more rumors of CEOs thinking about quitting the council, Trump disband the Manufacturing Council entirely. Tweeting, "Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both. Thank you all!"