Tim Cook has criticized Donald Trump and his handling of the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday, August 12, after a white nationalist rally turned ugly. Other CEOs have also made a stand by resigning from the president's manufacturing advisory council.
Tim Cook emailed a letter to all of his employees, outlining the core values of the company, after a clash broke out between white nationalists and counter-protesters who opposed the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlotesville, Virginia on Saturday, August 12. The events of that protests turned deadly after thirty-two year old Heather Heyer lost her life after a truck plowed into the crowd.
"We must not witness or permit such hate and bigotry in our country, and we must be unequivocal about it. This is not about the left or the right, conservative or liberal. It is about human decency and morality. I disagree with the president and others who believe that there is a moral equivalence between white supremacists and Nazis, and those who oppose them by standing up for human rights. Equating the two runs counter to our ideals as Americans," Tim Cook said in the letter.
In an email to employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook announces that the company is donating $1 million each to the ADL and SPLC. pic.twitter.com/5O40NXgvVF
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) 17 August 2017
Donald Trump was heavily critized for not condemning the white supremacists strongly enough, which led to high profile business chiefs such as Tim Cook either to speak out or resign. The Apple boos took to social media, expressing his dismay at the violence.
Heartbreaking scenes in #Charlottesville. Violence and racism have no place in America.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) 12 August 2017
We’ve seen the terror of white supremacy & racist violence before. It's a moral issue — an affront to America. We must all stand against it
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) 14 August 2017
Tim Cook is not the only leader to speak out against Trump's handling of the protests. Several top bosses have quit Donald Trump's manufacturing advisory panel.
Brian Krzanich, the boss of technology company Intel left his position on the council.
There should be no hesitation in condemning hate speech or white supremacy by name. #Intel asks all our countries leadership to do the same
— Brian Krzanich (@bkrunner) 14 August 2017
The CEO OF Merck pharmaceuticals Ken Frazier also resigned from his post.
Donald Trump headed straight to Twitter to voice his opinion, saying that for every CEO who drops out of his advisory panel, he has plenty more people to call on and replace them with.
For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place. Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 15 August 2017
However, a day later Trump was forced to dissolve the Manufacturing Council after several more CEOs left.
Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both. Thank you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 16 August 2017
