Under Armour CEO, Kevin Plank, is one of three CEOs set to leave Trump’s Manufacturing Jobs Initiative amid backlash from what some saw as a weak response from the president to this weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Va.
In Under Armour’s latest statement posted to Twitter yesterday evening, Plank said “Under Armour engages in innovation and sports, not politics.” He went on to say, “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
During his time on President Trump’s council, Plank has been a lightening rod. The CEO experienced backlash over pro-Trump sentiments that praised the president’s pro-business stance earlier in the year, after which brand ambassadors spoke out against Plank’s perceived stance.
Business Insider listed the remaining companies on Trump’s council, including:
Dow Chemical Company, Harris Corporation, Dell Technologies, Nucor Corporation, Whirlpool Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, United Technologies, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Dana Inc., The Timkin Company, AFL-CIO, Campbell Soup Company, Boeing, Caterpillar, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Newell Brands, International paper, 3M and Corning.
Intel and Merck’s CEOs also backed out of Trump’s council Monday. Only time will tell what other companies will follow suit.