Trump shuts down manufacturing council following resignations
US President Donald Trump has put an end to his manufacturing council after a series of resignations.
On Tuesday, LSIPR reported that Kenneth Frazier, the CEO of Merck, was one of three chief executives to step down from Trump’s council.
Frazier, along with Brian Krzanich of Intel and Kevin Plank of Under Armour, resigned from the President’s American Manufacturing Council, which had been set up to advise Trump on US manufacturing.
This followed Trump’s initial response to violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday, August 12.
Heather Heyer was killed at the rally and 19 others were hurt when a car rammed into people protesting against the far-right march.
Trump responded to Frazier’s resignation in two tweets.
His first said: “Now that Ken Frazier of Merck has resigned from President’s Manufacturing Council, he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!”
The second tweet added: “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!”
Alex Gorksy, CEO of Johnson & Johnson, had originally stated he would remain on the council.
However, in a statement made yesterday, August 16 after Trump issued a new statement on the rally, he said: “But the president’s remarks yesterday—equating those who are motivated by race-based hate with those who stand up against hatred—were unacceptable.”
Together with other members of the manufacturing council, Gorksy decided a “united withdrawal would make the most significant impact” and issued a media statement.
“Nearly simultaneously, President Trump tweeted a statement announcing his decision to disband the council,” said Gorksy.
Trump said in a tweet: “Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both. Thank you all!”
Before the disbandment of the council, Trump had tweeted: “For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!”
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