Intel CEO Brian Krzanich became the third executive to leave President Trump’s American Manufacturing Council on Monday.
In a blog post Monday night, Krzanich said, “Politics and political agendas have sidelined the important mission of rebuilding America’s manufacturing base.”
“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 wrote.
Krzanich did not specifically criticize Trump’s ambiguous initial response to the white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Va. as his reason for departing the council.
But, he made clear where he stood on the matter.
“I have already made clear my abhorrence at the recent hate-spawned violence in Charlottesville, and earlier today I called on all leaders to condemn the white supremacists and their ilk who marched and committed violence,” he said. “I resigned because I want to make progress, while many in Washington seem more concerned with attacking anyone who disagrees with them.”
Earlier Monday, Kenneth C. Frazier, the chief executive of Merck, one of the biggest drugmakers in America, resigned from Trump’s council over the president’s milquetoast condemnation of white supremacism following violence in Charlottesville, Va.
Then, Kevin Plank, the founder and chief executive of Under Armour, said he was also stepping down from the same panel.
“I joined the American Manufacturing Council because I believed it was important for Under Armour to have an active seat at the table and represent our industry,” Plank said in a statement released on Twitter. “However, Under Armour engages in innovation and sports, not politics.”
