The vile in President Donald Trump once more came out in a tweet when he hit Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier who quit the president’s American Manufacturing Council. Frazier resigned from the council to protest the response of Trump to the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Less than an hour after Frazier left the council, Trump tweeted about the CEO having more time to lower drug prices of Merck which allegedly rips off consumers, The New York Daily News reported. When Frazier met Trump in January with other CEOs of pharmaceuticals, the president then commented drug prices were too high, The Wall Steet Journal reported.
Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2017
Rejecting expressions of hatred
Frazier’s statement called for taking a stand against intolerance and extremism as the CEO of Merck and as a matter of personal conscience. Frazier also called on American leaders to honor the country’s fundamental values through a clear rejection of expressions of hatred, bigotry, and group supremacy. The American Manufacturing Council is an advisory council made up of 28 union and business leaders to help boost manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
The Merck CEO did not name Trump in his response to the Virginia violence on Saturday.
The White House insisted that Trump condemned hate group. On Saturday, the president did not name the KKK, neo-Nazis, and white nationalists. The “Unite the Right” hate-filled rally met at Charlottesville which attracted counter protests.
There were clashes which led to the death of a woman who was protesting the racist rally when she was hit by a Dodge Challenger that plowed into the crowd.
Third wave of resignations
Two months ago, Elon Musk of Tesla and Robert Iger of Walt Disney quit their advisory roles after Trump announce the withdrawal of the US in the Paris Climate Agreement. In February, Uber Technologies CEO Travis Kalanick left the Strategic and Policy Forum after users sought the deletion of the ride-hailing service app.
On Twitter, John Joyner dared Michael Dell to follow Frazier’s move, while Lady Liberty noted the impact of Frazier’s move on the pharmaceutical share prices.
Kenneth Frazier has taken the moral high ground. Donald Trump has control of the sewer. @POTUS @jaketapper @realDonaldTrump
— Tyrwarren (@Tyrwarren1) August 14, 2017
Yes!!! We support you 1000%. EVERY CEO should join Kenneth Frazier and resign from the White House Council.
— ResistARMY (@ResistARMY) August 14, 2017
As expected Vice President Mike Pence defended Trump. He said the president clearly and unambiguously condemned the bigotry, violence, and hatred in Charlottesville. Pence said Trump – who blamed the bigotry and violence on many sides – spoke from the heart,” The New York Daily News reported.
Democrats and even Republicans criticized Trump for the president’s refusal to denounce as a domestic terrorist and white supremacist the 20-year-old man who was arrested. Pence said he has no tolerance for hate, violence, and white supremacists. He described them as dangerous fringe groups with no place in the American debate.
