Under Armour, Intel CEOs quit Trump's job council over Charlottesville rally response

Roger Yu | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Three CEO's quit Trump's advisory council after Charlottesville More CEOs are turning the back on President Trump following his delayed condemnation of white supremacists after the violent rally in Charlottesville.

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said late Monday he's stepping down from President Trump's manufacturing job council, joining Merck and Intel in distancing his company from the administration following Trump's widely criticized response to white nationalists' rally at Charlottesville.

"We remain resolute in our potential and ability to improve American manufacturing," Plank said in a statement. "However, Under Armour engages in innovation and sports, not politics."

Also late Monday, Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, said in a company blog post he also had resigned from the manufacturing council.

"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," Krzanich wrote. "Politics and political agendas have sidelined the important mission of rebuilding America’s manufacturing base."

Earlier Monday Merck CEO Ken Frazier announced his intention to step down from the council "as a matter of personal conscience."

Frazier's resignation prompted angry responses from Trump on Twitter. In the morning, Trump tweeted that Frazier's response would give him "more time to lower ripoff drug prices."

Trump stepped up his Twitter criticism of the pharmaceutical giant and Frazier later in the afternoon, hours after his delayed denunciation of specific racist hate groups involved in the weekend's tragedy.

Plank said his company — which makes athletic gear endorsed by players including Stephen Curry of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and Tom Brady of the NFL’s New England Patriots — joined the council "to have an active seat at the table" for discussions on how to spur manufacturing jobs.

"I am appreciative of the opportunity to have served, but have decided to step down from the council," Plank said. "I love our country and our company and will continue to focus my efforts on inspiring every person that they can do anything through the power of sport which promotes unity, diversity and inclusion."

I love our country & company. I am stepping down from the council to focus on inspiring & uniting through power of sport. - CEO Kevin Plank pic.twitter.com/8YvndJMjj1 — Under Armour (@UnderArmour) August 15, 2017

Trump came under fire over the weekend for his refusal to specifically denounce neo-Nazis, KKK and other racist groups after their rally in Charlottesville resulted in at least three people killed and dozens more hurt.

Trump's statement over the weekend that condemned "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, many sides" was considered inadequate by numerous lawmakers, including some Republicans. Some of Trump's political opponents called it a "dog whistle" to far-right and extremist supporters.

After repeated calls for a more forceful response, Trump finally addressed reporters in the White House on Monday afternoon and said "racism is evil."

"And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups," Trump said before leaving the lectern without taking questions.