Critics pressure Michael Dell to quit Trump panel,
Dell Tech says CEO isn’t budging from engaging with the White House.
Pressure mounted Tuesday on Dell Technologies founder and CEO Michael Dell to resign from a manufacturing council that advises President Donald Trump.
Since Monday, four chief executives have resigned from Trump advisory panels in protest over his initial response to violence during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday.
Dell, who founded Round Rockbased Dell Technologies in 1984, remains on the president’s manufacturing council. Dell Technologies, which employs about 13,000 people in Central Texas, released a written statement saying there is “no change in Dell engaging with the Trump administration and governments around the world to share our perspective on policy issues that affect our company, customers and employees.”
Dell is facing criticism from liberal groups like Progress Texas for remaining on the council. Progress Texas released a statement Tuesday calling for Dell to resign and “unequivocally denounce any expression of bigotry, hatred and white supremacy.”
Dell is not alone in remaining on the president’s manufacturing council. A number of CEOs of major companies — including General Electric, Dow, Whirlpool and International Paper — are still on the panel, which had 28 members initially but it has shrunk since it was formed earlier this year as executives retire, are replaced or resign.
On social media, criticism mounted as well, with hashtags like #QuitTheCouncil used to lob criticism at Dell and other CEOs who remain on the council.
Many in the business community have been critical of Trump’s