Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is the third CEO to quit Trump’s manufacturing council in less than 24 hours over the President’s weak condemnation of white supremacists and the violence in Charlottesville.
In a blog post, Krzanich wrote:
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. Politics and political agendas have sidelined the important mission of rebuilding America’s manufacturing base.
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. 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. I hope this will change, and I remain willing to serve when it does.
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I am not a politician. I am an engineer who has spent most of his career working in factories that manufacture the world’s most advanced devices. Yet, it is clear even to me that nearly every issue is now politicized to the point where significant progress is impossible. Promoting American manufacturing should not be a political issue.
My request—my plea—to everyone involved in our political system is this: set scoring political points aside and focus on what is best for the nation as a whole. The current environment must change, or else our nation will become a shadow of what it once was and what it still can and should be.
Corporate America loves stability, and what Trump is doing with his refusal to seriously condemn white supremacy and extremism is creating chaos in American society. The catering to extremist fringes and blaming the left for the violence in Charlottesville is part of the polarization that the Trump presidency survives on. Donald Trump has to constantly divide and appeal to his basis because he lacks both the skills and the knowledge to govern from the middle and build consensus.
Trump is a far-right believer, and feelings are not the basis for good policy.
CEOs are likely to continue to flee from Trump because there is no reward to being seen with a president who supports racism and bigotry or at best is too disinterested to respond appropriately to white supremacist domestic terror.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
