TRUMP: CEOs dropping out of manufacturing council are 'grandstanders' and there are 'many to take their place'
"For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place," Trump tweeted. "Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBS!"
Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier announced Monday that he would depart the council that's focused on fostering American manufacturing jobs due to Trump's failure to denounce white supremacists in his initial response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich followed suit later on Monday.
Trump went after Frazier within minutes of his announcement Monday morning, but did not comment on Plank nor Krzanich directly.
"Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council, he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!" Trump tweeted about Frazier.
Later that day, Trump condemned "the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups" in a statement.
A number of executives, including Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg, GO CEO Jeff Immelt, and Campbell Soup CEO Denise Morrison told Business Insider they would remain on the council.