Intel CEO is third executive to leave Trump council

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich has announced his resignation from President Donald Trump's American Manufacturing Council, becoming the third executive to do so since the violence in Virginia, the media reported.

"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 in a blog post on Monday.

"Politics and political agendas have sidelined the important mission of rebuilding America's manufacturing base."

Krzanich called for an end to "scoring political points" and said "the current environment must change", reports The Hill magazine.

"I have already made clear my abhorrence at the recent hate-spawned violence in Charlottesville and ... I called on all leaders to condemn the white supremacists and their ilk who marched and committed violence."

Krzanich did not mention Trump by name in his post, but his departure from the council comes as the President has faced tough criticism over his response to Charlotttesville.

A white supremacist rally in the town descended into violence on Saturday. A man allegedly drove a car into a crowd of peaceful counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring many others.

Earlier on Monday, Kenneth Frasier, CEO of the pharmaceutical giant Merck, resigned.

Kevin Plank, the CEO of sports clothing manufacturer Under Armour, became the second executive to step down on Monday evening.

--IANS

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