Two committees of business leaders - the manufacturing council and strategic policy forum – ceased operations, with Mr Trump issuing a hasty tweet on Wednesday to announce their closure before the members could resign. A third committee, on infrastructure, would not even begin work, the White House said on Thursday.

Unlike the others, however, the 17-member PCAH is considered an official agency, with the First Lady as its honorary chair.

Founded by Ronald Reagan in 1982, its current members were appointed by Barack Obama. It is yet to meet under Mr Trump, but works with American educators and leads cultural delegations to other countries.

On Friday its members, including artist Chuck Close, actor Kal Penn, author Jhumpa Lahiri and Vicki Kennedy, widow of former senator Ted Kennedy, issued a scathing statement to announce their mass resignation.

“We cannot sit idly by, the way that your West Wing advisors have, without speaking out against your words and actions,” the members wrote, calling on the president to resign if he does not see a problem with what has happened this week.