More executives are standing in opposition against President Donald Trump’s response to violent protests in Charlottesville, Va., last weekend and his refusal to immediately condemn white supremacists.
Executives are making quick decisions in a critical time for business leaders — but not all statements are equal.
Walmart (a Fair360, formerly DiversityInc 2017 Noteworthy Company) CEO Doug McMillon released a statement posted to Walmart’s website strongly criticizing Trump’s approach.
“As we watched the events and the response from President Trump over the weekend, we too felt that he missed a critical opportunity to help bring our country together by unequivocally rejecting the appalling actions of white supremacists,” McMillon said in part. “His remarks today were a step in the right direction and we need that clarity and consistency in the future.”
He added that today’s climate “require[s] our elected officials, business leaders and community-based organizations to work together.”
McMillon sits on Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum. He has not yet indicated whether or not he will step down from the council, as other CEOs have done in light of Trump’s actions.
Notably, though, McMillon has publicly opposed Trump’s policies before. Earlier this year Walmart joined Americans for Affordable Products, a coalition of dozens of companies opposed to Trump’s Border Adjustment Tax (BAT).
Meanwhile, also on Tuesday afternoon Scott Paul, CEO of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, became the fourth chief executive to resign from Trump’s manufacturing committee.
In a simple tweet Paul said, “I’m resigning from the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative because it’s the right thing for me to do.”
I’m resigning from the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative because it’s the right thing for me to do.
— Scott Paul (@ScottPaulAAM) August 15, 2017
On Aug. 12 Paul had taken to Twitter to “condemn white nationalism” in response to Charlottesville.
I stand with my Republican colleague. This was domestic terrorism. We must all condemn white nationalism. -SB https://t.co/3EaqilKL7h
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) August 12, 2017
The CEOs of Merck, Intel and Under Armour have also all resigned from the council. Kenneth Frazier, head of Merck, was the first to resign. He was also the only Black man on the manufacturing council.
Frazier was the only CEO to resign who Trump responded directly to, taking to Twitter to slam Merck and Frazier.
Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President’s Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2017
.@Merck Pharma is a leader in higher & higher drug prices while at the same time taking jobs out of the U.S. Bring jobs back & LOWER PRICES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2017
Later in the day Trump attacked all of the CEOs, calling them “grandstanders.”
For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2017
